Amotekun: Akeredolu, OYC React To AGF Statement

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure

Following the declaration of the recent launched southwest security outfit operation Amotekun as illegal by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, governors from the region have said they are ready to pursue operation Amotekun to a logical conclusion.

It would be recalled that governors in the South West Zone last Thursday in Ibadan flagged-off the operations of the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun), stressing that it would complement the mainstream security agencies in the country.

But the AGF on Tuesday through his spokesman, Dr. Umar Gwandu made the governments position known and declared the security outfit illegal.

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Chairman, southwest governor’s forum while speaking on Wednesday in Akure at the 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance day celebration said governors in the region are committed to the success of Amotekun to check incidences of banditry, kidnapping, farmers and Herders clashes.

According to him, the security outfit, Amotekun was not a para-military outfit noting that the introduction of the security outfit was to purely compliment the efforts of other security agencies.

Meanwhile, the Oodua Youth Coalition (OYC), has also rejected in its entirety the illegal tag placed on the security outfit by the federal government through the Attorney General of the Federation.

This was contained a statement signed by the National President and Publicity Secretary of the group, Tayo Akintade and Oluwagbenga Ajongbolo respectively.

The statement reads, “We won’t wait till insurgents, kidnappers, highway robbers, ritualists, armed bandits and other criminals run over us and turn us into refugees in our own land.

“How the Federal Government is very comfortable and unconcerned about the unending crisis in the Northern part of Nigeria remain a mystery and puzzle no one is ready to solve.

“Between 2019 and now, the FG through budgetary allocations and other means has committed over #90billion Nigerian taxpayers funds for the establishment and running of the Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) created to see an end to the economic, social and political ruins the region has been subjected in the hands of Boko Haram, armed bandits and kidnappers rampaging in those areas.

“According to reports, over 70,000 Nigerians have been killed since 2010 and over 5million displaced and turned to residents of IDP camps scattered across the region. Just days ago, over a dozen soldiers were killed by insurgents with more maimed and injured. While these criminals come for innocent blood, those of our soldiers are not spared.

“Today, lack of access to basic health, water and sanitation, education and even climate action have hampered the progress of the fight against them.

“Is this what Malami or Buhari want? A Yorubaland run over by terrorists? Ondo under Boko Haram? Ekiti praying not to have armed bandits travel through? Oyo where kidnappers hold supreme?

“Operation Amotekun has come to stay in our land. We will do everything to support these brave governors as they work tirelessly to see to a more secure Southwest people and states. We won’t wait till you allow these criminals turn our homes to refugee homes and our schools to IDP camps.”