Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, said on Monday, at the inauguration of the Board of the Oyo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun, that the people of the state will see more visible actions being taken by the government to secure the state.

He maintained that his government will continue to take the issue of security of lives and property, and people being able to go about their lawful endeavours, seriously.

Governor Makinde stated that contrary to the negative pictures being painted by those hell-bent on politicising the insecurity situation, a lot more people and businesses have been coming to the state as a result of the policies of the administration.

He called on residents not to panic but join hands to secure the state.
“We know that because of the policies of this administration, a lot of people are coming into Oyo State, and when you have more and more people coming in, it will come with its own set of challenges and with opportunities as well.

“In the days ahead, we will also let the people of Oyo State know the things we are doing as far as security is concerned. And when they see security operatives all around, they must give them total support.
“Yes, I can go to Igangan and take responsibility for some of these activities but security is our collective responsibility. It is not just for the government or governor alone. So, everybody needs to come on board and play their own part,” he said.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor made this call in furtherance of the administration’s commitment to expanding the security architecture of the state and the fulfilment of the law setting up the agency.

Governor Makinde, at the event held inside the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, indicated that the 12-member Board has as its chairman, Brig-General Ajibola Kunle Togun (rtd) and Mrs. Akinbode Iyabode Enitan as secretary.

Some of the members of the Board include the Amotekun Commandant, Col. Bisiriyu Olayinka Olayanju (rtd), the Commissioner of Police; State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Defence Corps; representative of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the state; and the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Security Trust Fund and Special Adviser on Security, COMPOL Fatai Owoseni (rtd).

Others are Commodore Rasaki Ajani Babalola, representing Oyo South Senatorial District; Mr.Ogunlowo Samson, representing Oyo North Senatorial District; Mrs. Hamzat Khadijat Ronke, representing Oyo Central Senatorial District; the Onpetu of Ijeru, Oba Sunday Oladapo Oyediran, representing the traditional Institution and the Executive Assistant (Security), CP Sunday Odukoya (rtd).

The governor maintained that the inauguration of the board will pave the way for more inter-agency relationships with similar security networks in the neighbouring states, urging the heads of security agencies in the state to provide necessary support and cooperation.

He said: “Since the passing out of the 1,500 members of Amotekun Corps in November last year, they have been operating under the leadership of General Togun and the Commandant, Colonel Olayanju.

“As we continue to expand our security architecture and improve our system, and also in fulfillment of the law setting up the Amotekun Corps, we have to inaugurate the Board, and that is exactly what we are doing here today.

“The law establishing the Oyo State Security and Network Agency codenamed Amotekun Corps to assist in maintaining law and order in the state and for other matters connected therewith, stipulates the establishment of the Governing board in section 7.

“The three representatives which were mentioned, we want a representative from each of the senatorial districts in Oyo State. Also, we have to get the buy-in of our traditional institution. So, Kabiyesi Onpetu of Ijeru, Oba Sunday Oladapo Oyediran is on the board.

“We believe that with the inauguration of this board today, we will see even more visible action in securing Oyo State, especially in the area of fostering relationships between Amotekun of Oyo State and similar security network agencies in our neighboring states:Ondo, Osun, Ogun and Ekiti States.

“We also expect more inter-agency cooperation within the state. Remember that one of the reasons we started the Amotekun Corps is to bring security operatives closer to the people. We were asking for state police and we could not get that because it involves amending the constitution of the country and it is a big task. But while we were waiting for that, we believed that we had to move on.”

Governor Makinde added that the Amotekun corps, though faced with different challenges, have been filling a major void in the security architecture in the state, saying: “On many occasions, I have watched videos. The Amotekun Corps are faced with superior fire-power. They are not licensed to carry weapons like AK47 but we see bandits carrying such weapons. But despite the visible challenges that they are faced with, they have been able to fill the gap of local policing successfully. It has been difficult but they have been doing it.

“So, if things are as they are now, we wonder how things might have been without the Amotekun Corps,” he added.

He enjoined heads of other security agencies to provide needed support that are needed for the Amotekun.

Appealing to individuals trying to discredit Amotekun and politicise the insecurity situation to desist from such a path, Governor Makinde said it will not bode well for anyone to destroy the state in the name of politics or seeking political power.

He called on all residents to join hands with the state government to surmount the security challenges, which, according to him, is not peculiar to Oyo State.

He said :“I have been listening and watching people try to politicise the issue of security. Well, I want to appeal to such individuals within the state; it is our state and it is only God that puts people in position. If you want to destroy your state before everybody to gain political power, I wonder what kind of state such an individual or group of people will want to preside over.

“We have seen cases where they doctored videos to discredit Amotekun. We have seen cases where people go out and lie outright. Now, everybody has been on the street as an advisor on security. They have all sorts of advice they gave to me and I asked them where they practiced their own security. They have not gone beyond their streets, maybe they organized neighborhood watch and they think that it is the qualification on how to advise us on the issue of security.

“Well, some of these people are saying insecurity is the major challenge in Oyo State. Yes, the country is going through quite a bit but I challenge them to a debate. I am ready. Let them come and tell us what they will be doing differently. They have nothing to offer the people of Oyo State apart from wanting to ride on the perception of insecurity to gain prominence.

“They should wait and let us build Oyo State together. If it is God’s will for them to be in power in 2023, God will do it for them easily. But we must not destroy our state. We must not politicise insecurity. Yes, some people did it at the national level and gained power in 2015 but Nigerians are wiser,” he added.

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The state’s Commandant of the security outfit, Colonel Olayanju Olayinka (rtd.) who confirmed the development also informed that it has dismissed Afolabi Kazeem with Ammunition Number AM031849.

Afolabi, was reported to have killed Mr Tosin Thomas on Wednesday.

Colonel Olayinka (rtd.) in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen  in Ibadan added that the erring corp has been handed over to the police for prosecution, while his Team leader, George Idowu, is being thoroughly investigated and will face all necessary sanctions.

Narrating the incident that led to the killing of Thomas, Colonel Olayinka said “at about 10 PM on Wednesday, January 13, 2021, Operatives of Amotekun, led by Team Leader George Idowu, got an alert of a purported armed robbery operation at Total Filling Station, Mokola, Ibadan.

“Following the distress call, the Team Leader and his team of seven members arrived at the scene.

“On arrival at the scene of the alleged crime, it turned out that it was not an armed robbery operation, though a crowd had gathered.

“The Team Leader, sensing no immediate danger to anyone at the scene immediately proceeded to speak with the station manager. While he was with the manager, he heard a gunshot.

“As it turned out, one of his team members, by the name Afolabi Kazeem, who felt sufficiently threatened by the crowd, which included some hoodlums armed with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons, opened fire to supposedly scare away the crowd. Unfortunately, his shot hit one Mr Tosin Thomas, 23, who was subsequently confirmed dead.”

Amotekun Commandant disclosed that the Corps has found that Afolabi Kazeem with Ammunition Number AM031849 acted outside the Amotekun Corps’ protocols.

He continued, “For this reason, he has been summarily dismissed from the Corps and handed over to the police for prosecution. Also, his Team leader, George Idowu, is being thoroughly investigated and will face all necessary sanctions”.

Amotekun Commandant, however reassured members of the public of the Corps’ internal mechanisms for dealing with erring officers, adding that “We will continue to train and retrain our officers on best practices and rules of engagement.”

He then disclosed that the Corps deeply regrets the loss to the Thomas family, and “we are already in touch with the family”.

The post Oyo Amotekun Confirms Killing of 23-Year-Old Man In Ibadan, Dismisses Erring Officer first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

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The Commandant, who addressed newsmen in Ibadan explained that his men launched six operations in four local government areas but that the team in Aiyete was attacked inside the forest by suspected bandits, three of whom were killed by his men.

According to him, the operations were fully supported by Fulani leaders living in the areas, adding that a number of Miyetti Allah members were part of our operations.

A statement by the Commandant, which was made available to newsmen after the media briefing further added that Amotekun operatives raided the forests of Ibarapa and Oke Ogun areas of the state in the early hours of Saturday to rid the areas of kidnappers and criminal elements.

Col. Olayanju, who equally paraded one of the suspected kidnap kingpins, Sanni Bello, said he was arrested in the forests around Aiyegun axis, in Iwajowa Local Government Area, adding that the Amotekun worked closely with officials of Miyetti Allah, whose family members have equally suffered kidnapping in recent times.

The statement by the Amotekun Commandant also indicated that the operation around the forests was embarked upon following incessant reports of killings and kidnapping in the area.

The statement read: “Contrary to any report you might have come across, there was no clash whatsoever between Fulani herdsmen and Amotekun in Ibarapa or Oke Ogun axes of Oyo State.

“What happened was that we launched clearance operations in different locations around the thick forests of the four local governments that have suffered kidnapping and wanton killings in recent times.

“When our men entered the forests at Aiyede, they were attacked, leading to a gun battle where three of the attackers died. One of our men sustained injuries.

“It is not a clash with the fulani because the Fulanis were part of the planning of the operation and we raided the forests together. We are in touch with Seriki who is the leader of the Fulani in the area. Even after our men were withdrawn Saturday afternoon, we got reports that some Fulani were kidnapped in one location close to the area of operation. So they are working with us because they are also victims of the dastardly acts of kidnapping in the area.

“The incessant kidnapping and wanton destruction of lives necessitated the planning of a clearance operation from Lanlate, Igbo Ora, Igangan, Iganna and Aiyegun general areas in Ibarapa East, Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North as well as Iwajowa Local Government Areas.

“There were six teams in all comprising members of Amotekun, Vigilantes, Hunters and Maiyetti Allah Vigilante.

“All the six teams had elements of these groups ( joint team). “However, at Igbo Ora, one of the teams had an encounter with two armed men, effected their arrest and recovered one double barrel rifle. All suspects and weapon were handed over to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO Magoro Police Station, Igbo Ora at about 9am on Saturday.

“In a related development, another team was attacked at about 9.30am in Igangan forest, Ibarapa North while on the clearance operations at a settlement. The attack was repelled resulting to serious injury on one member of Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and three other suspects. Two dane guns were recovered at the scene.

“In Iwajowa LGA, one of the teams also arrested a kidnap kingpin operating around Aiyegun axis. He was arrested with a locally made pistol and cartridges.

“However, the operation was suspended at about 12 noon on Saturday to allow for further stock taking”, the statement explained

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