SEEING provision of security as one of the key functions of any responsible and responsive government, governors of the southwestern states in Nigeria on Thursday converged on Ibadan to launch the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) tagged: ‘Operation Amotekun’ with the aim to ensure an end to insecurity in the region.

The security outfit with the motto: “Zero Tolerance to Crime” will henceforth start work by securing the masses from attacks from terrorists, bandits, and other vices in Oyo, Lagos, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun and the Ogun States.

The recent occurrence of the herdsmen incursion in some parts of the country and of late in the Southwest has left many in palpable fears of the unknown.

There are various efforts put in place by the government to nip in the board the nefarious activities of these criminally-minded herdsmen, to which only little achievements are made.

The six south-west governors, June last year, jointly brainstormed in Ibadan to come up with a new security architecture for the southwest to effectively tackle insecurity through the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission (DAWN).

The region’s governors at the summit proposed the establishment of a regional security outfit codenamed Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN). The outfit, which has its members drawn from local hunters, the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) and Vigilante group, will work with other security agencies and traditional rulers for effective community security.

Recalls that in proferring a solution to the insecurity, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Muhammed Adamu summoned an emergency security meeting with the six southwest governors in Ibadan, September last year, to discuss the security challenges in the country, especially as it affects the southwest states in recent times and adoption of a new security architecture for the southwest, which, however, birthed the emergence of “Operation Amotekun.”

Part of the causes for the emergency security meeting was the recent murder of Mrs Funke Olakunrin, the daughter of the foremost Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, by yet to be identified gunmen.

At the emergency security meeting, the IGP gave the approval to deploy special forces in the six states of the southwest to be under a commissioner of police.

It was agreed that the OPC, traditional rulers and the governors of the zone would partner the police.

However, the south-west governors again restated their avowed commitment to the provision of safety for the lives and property of people of the southwest.

While speaking, Governor Akeredolu of Ondo State who is the Chairman, South West Governors Forum, stated that the security outfit was not serving as an alternative to the police force but to simply play a complementary role through intelligence gathering to the federal government security agencies.

He said: “Let me reiterate that Amotekun is an initiative of all the governors of the south-west states and its role is to complement the Nigeria police force.”

“The south-west states believe in the unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we believe in Nigeria. To me, our sovereignty is indissoluble,” he stressed.

The governor assured that the security outfit would not be allowed to serve as a tool by politicians against any political opponent or during political activities.

Governor Akeredolu who also said the southeast governors would provide logistics to support the security apparatus disclosed that each of the states in the south-west has procured nothing less than six vehicles for the take-off with Oyo State procuring 33 vehicles.

He called on the people of the region to continue to support President Mohammadu Buhari- led Federal Government in its efforts to nip the current security challenges facing the country in the bud.

Ekiti State governor who also is the Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi, said the launch of the Western Nigeria Security outfit, ‘Amotekun’ was borne out of the fact that it would further boost the security of lives and property of the people in the south-west region.

According to him: “We all know the reason behind the creation of the Amotekun, we have been daily rubbed, we can no longer farm on our farms, the most prime of it is the cold murder of the daughter of one of our leaders in Afenifere, Funke Olakunrin nee Fasoranti.”

“My self and my colleagues then think we should help the mainstream security to tackle the menace. From our initial Security summit, we held in Ibadan some six months ago, we decided to create a security outfit that will be responsive and responsible and accountable for our citizenry.”

According to him, Amotekun is nothing but a community policing, that is responsible for the problem of our people. It is important that we installed confidence in our people that voted us into power, and that is what Amotekun is going to do for our people.

Source:- Vanguardngr

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