The Oyo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun Corps, has commenced operation with 1,500 newly trained personnel.
This is following the passing out parade of the pioneer batch of the security corps at the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, on Wednesday.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Wednesday said the initiative was the state’s local response to crime and criminality.
He stated that the South-West states would combat crimes through the security agency.
Recall that the agency was initially launched in January as a South-West regional security outfit to combat crimes in collaboration with the police and other federal security agencies.
Governor Makinde said the six states of the region would fight a common enemy who appears determined to cause commotion and perpetuate crimes.
He highlighted the efforts of his government in improving the security sector to include support for the federal security agencies in the state with the provision of patrol vehicles, communication gadgets and other logistic support.
He added that the approval and establishment of a Police Mobile Force 72 Squadron at Ago-Are, Oke Ogun area of the state by the Inspector-General of Police, as well as provision of vehicles and logistic support for the squadron was another step taken by his administration to boost security.
Noting that state policing is the way forward to tackle insecurity, he said the Amotekun initiative remained the best thing in the absence of state police.
He, however, charged the Corps to exhibit the highest level of professionalism in the discharge of their duties, adding that none of them must be seen harassing the people.
The governor said, “As I said during the official launch of this outfit in January, our regional integration, through Amotekun, should be seen in one light. We are coming together to fight a common enemy. That enemy is not Nigeria; the enemies are the elements among us and their affiliates, who are determined to cause commotion within our states’ borders and threaten our peaceful coexistence.
“Never again will invaders come into Oyo State without a local response from us. Amotekun is our local response.”
Earlier, in his remarks, the Commandant of the Amotekun, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (retd.), said the outfit would work effectively to secure the lives and properties of the people of the state.
