(Above) Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Oludaisi Elemide and Gov. Dapo Abiodun. (Below) Amotekun Corps operatives.
Ogun State House of Assembly has called for a remake of Amotekun Corps, the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), codenamed Operation Amotekun created by the state governments in the Southwest to deal with common security challenges.
To this effect, the state House of Assembly has passed a resolution, calling on the State Government to reposition the Corps founded in 2020 in Ibadan, Oyo State so as to be more effective in securing lives and property of residents of the state.
The House of Assembly wanted the state government to commence the rejigging of the Corps as soon as possible by appointing a new State Commander, not below the rank of a Major or its equivalent from other security agencies to man its operations.
The marching orders to the state by the assembly is sequel to the recent demise of the state Amotekun Corps former Commander, CP David Akinremi.
The House also wanted the Corps, Nigeria’s first regional security outfit to be initiated by a geopolitical zone, to be empowered through recruitment of appropriate capable and competent personnel to strengthen its operations.
The Assembly noted that the move would help tackle incessant security breaches, especially kidnappings and armed robberies being experienced in some parts of the state.
Opening debate on the motion leading to the passage of the Resolution during a Plenary, presided over by Speaker Oludaisi Elemide, the sponsor of the resolution, Hon. Babatunde Tella, had reported the ineffectiveness of the Amotekun Corps, following the demise of the State Commander.
He disclosed that there had been reports that the operation of the agency was being hampered by insufficient fund, stressing that the Corps was in dire need of more personnel, who should be localised in the communities, as well as ammunitions and vehicles, to enable them provide adequate security in the state.
Other members who contributed to the debate including, Honourables Olusegun Kaka, Adebisi Oyedele, Minority Leader, Lukman Adeleye, Adegoke Adeyanju and Fola Salami, recounted incidents of insecurity, especially kidnappings in their respective constituencies, which needed to be addressed headlong.
The resolution also sought for the need to equip the Corps with modern ammunitions, up-to-date communication gadgets and other security apparatus, as well as the procurement of additional vehicles, to aid its operations and other activities.
The debate later led to the motion for the resolution moved by the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sheriff, seconded by the Minority Leader, Adeleye Lukman and supported by the Whole House, through a unanimous voice vote.
