Amotekun: Fayemi explains reason for the creation of regional security

- Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state has explained why Amotekun, the southwest's security agency, was formed

- Fayemi argued that none of the state governors is backing out as they had been under pressure to secure the region

- The governor denied insinuation that Amotekun would undermine the Nigeria Police Force (NPF)

As ‘Amotekun’, southwest’s regional security force commenced operation on shaky note on Thursday, January 9, Governor Kayode Fayemi has explained the rationale behind its establishment.

Fayemi, who governs Ekiti and chairs a forum of Nigerian governors, said Amotekun, which is also called the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), is not a form of the regional police.

The governor spoke at the launch of the security body in Ibadan, Oyo state, explaining that the governors were under pressure to secure the lives and property of the people of the region.

According to Fayemi, the fears of the people of the southwest needed to be allayed especially with the way incidents of insecurity occurred in the area in recent times.

The governor said he and his colleagues were further put under pressure following the killing of Funke Olakunrin, daughter of Pa Reuben Fasoranti, leader of the Afenifere, in 2019.

Fayemi, while promising that the governors would ensure adequate security in the region, further explained that, against insinuation, none of the governors in the south-west was losing interest in the programme.

He explained that some of the governors had earlier advocated for state police, but added that the Amotekun is not meant to undermine the federal government.

Fayemi said they have no intention of undermining the integrity of the government.

To him, Amotekun is simply a community policing structure which is targeted to respond to a challenge.

“It is nothing but a confidence-building strategy for our people in the six states in the western zone,” Fayemi said.

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“Amotekun is not a replacement nor an imitation of the Nigerian Police Force. It is a compliment that gives our people confidence that they are being looked after by those they have elected into office,” he said adding that its establishment should not create fear among the people of the country.

He added that he and his colleagues would continue to advocate for state police.

“We do not want anyone to misconstrue what is happening here. The conception of Amotekun is that we would operate on a state by state basis,” he said.

Legit.ng reported that the Northern Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN), on Thursday, January 8, kicked against the formation of Amotekun in the southwest zone of the country.

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Source: Legit.ng