*Preparation in top gear for take-off of the outfit in the state
By Marufh Bello
It has been announced that any impediment to the operations of the Amotekun Oyo by anybody will attract N50,000 fine or imprisonment or both as preparation for the smooth take-off of the regional security outfit is in top gear in the state.
This was disclosed in a pre-takeoff stakeholders meeting held in Ibadan, the state capital, last week, to present to the public and brief them about the operational modalities of the security outfit.
At a meeting attended by various stakeholders invited from all nooks and crannies of the state, the contents of the operational document, espousing the modalities as passed and signed into law by the Oyo State House of Assembly and the state’s Executive Council, were read out and analysed for the participants at the event and people of Oyo State in general.
On the document are, according to the organizers of the event, sources of funding, recruitment and composition of leadership and corps of the outfit, operational methods, infringement and/or impediment to the operations of the corps, penalties and fines, among others.
While dissecting the contents of the document, it was stated that the outfit would be funded through the Security Trust Fund, donations, testamentary will and other gifts by individuals, private and corporate organisations and companies who might appreciate the operations of the regional security outfit.
Recruitment into the corps of Amotekun will be by merit and they will be properly registered as each corps member will carry an identification number on their uniforms.
Providing security for the state through synergy with other units across the entire south west, the corps will engage in tracking down all forms of criminal activities in the state through surveillance and investigation, while assisting the regular national police to uncover and carry out their duties effectively without any hinderance, according to the pre-takeoff conference.
It was handed down at the meeting that any resident of the state who constitutes an impediment to the smooth operations of the corps will be prosecuted in a law court with either imprisonment or fine of N50,000 or both.
The pre-takeoff conference was held in the wake of the call by the state House of Assembly, previous week, urging the Amotekun outfit to start operations with immediate effect following the current wave of crimes in the state in the last two weeks.
It would be recalled that there was a report that there were killing and attacks on the lives and properties of some of the residents of the state, particularly in Pade Village, Akinyele Local Government, which was allegedly said to have been perpetrated by suspected hoodlums and herdsmen.
The general commanding officer of the Western Nigerian Security Network, Amotekun, General Kunle Togun (rtd), emphasized that the establishment and operations of the outfit would help a great deal to strengthen the discharge of the duties of the regular police, while urging the citizens and all residents of the state to cooperate with the Amotekun corps as soon as they resumed duty.
