INADEQUACY OF EQUIPMENTS, HAMPERED OUR EFFORTS .
By Olusegun HOSEA, Akure. 23th August.2023.
The Commander of the South West Security Network Agency, code named Amotekun, Chief Agogun Adetunji Adeleye has said the inadequacy of equipments, hampered the smooth running of the efforts of his gallant men, in combating the criminals that were terrorizing the peace and tranquility of the state, particularly the Famers- Herders clashes, that are occuring occasionally within the State.
Chief Agogun, disclosed this to some crops of Journalists who are members of Online Media Practitioners at the state command Head Quarters of the Corps today, at Akure the state capital of Ondo State during a courtesy call when he was fielding questions from the Press men, on the level of effectiveness of the security in the state.
Speaking further, the Amotekun Commander said the Corps was set up by the Ondo State Government, to complement the activities of the Mother Security Organization in the State. He said no doubt, inadequacy of the equipments was the major thing that is hampering the smooth running of their activities. According to him, he said the Corps had a smooth synergy with other Security Agencies in the state, like the Army, the Police, the Civil Defence, the DSS, as support and host of others.
Similarly, the Commander also said the Agency, which came to be as a child of necessity, when the security of the Western Zone was dwindling, during that time and Amotekun was set up to assist in ensuring that their roles then and till today, was to doting the ‘i’ and crossing the ‘t’ by ensuring that peace return to the land. He said their efforts were geared up towards assisting the mother security in the land, so that the whole environment could be saved for all to live.
Adetunji, who didn’t mixed words while explaining to the Journalists, said they had been able to achieve much, despite the fact that the equipments were not adequate. He appealed to the relevant Authorities to give them the opportunity, to use the sophisticated weapons, having been tested for the past three years. He affirmed that there would not be any form of abuse on any weapon, if given to his men, the opportunity of using such equipments. He said his men would be adequately trained to handle such equipments professionally, if they have access to such sophisticated weapons, like the one the enemies are carrying, as this would enhance the operational performance of his men, in combating their adversaries
In another development, Adeleye said the issue of the legislative backing that would allow the Corps to access the weapon, was still under the legislative list. He said they were still appealing to the government, to allow them carry such sophisticated weapons, due to the magnitude of the danger involved in combating the enemies. He explained that if the Government could give them the opportunity, the whole thing would definitely increase the level of cooperate security in the state, which would be enjoyed by the people living in the Western part of the State, in Nigeria.
Also, the Ondo State Commander of the Amotekun, used the medium to high-light some of the achievements the Corps had recorded, since the inception of the Agency in 2021 till date and the challenges facing them. According to him, some of the achievements high-lighted were summarized to the public before this day.He said it was practically impossible for the Farmers to go to their farms, to plant and harvest their crops without being kidnapped and molested.
He said, but now they could perform their activities on their farms as they wish. He also said that, to transact business with any Banks in the state before, was too difficult because of the nefarious activities of the men of the under- world, that do normally follow people to their houses to collect the money. Adeleye said, such acts had reduced drastically in the state now, since the Amotekun had been in charge of the security of every nooks and crannies of the state.
He said, part of the strategy the agency used in curbing the menace, included the enlightment campaign about the Farmers/ Herders, clashes on the Mass Media and also go to other Security Agencies in the state, to seek for their support in fighting the mirage of the problems that was bedeviling the state.
He explained that as they were doing that, they were also trying to remove the misconception from the public, that Amotekun was coming to take up the duties of the Mother Security Agencies in the State. But to complement their efforts, in combating the criminals.
He said from that point they went into enforcement of Farmers- Herders clashes and about five thousand (5000) petitions within a month, were received and these was resolved. He said they were able to carry along with them the leadership of the Meyetti Alah in the state and explained to them that, as they had the right to do their businesses in the state, so also does the Farmers have the right to farm in their farm lands and that they should be able to relate, without problems.
He said when the enforcement commenced, they ensured that Herders were made to compensate those Farmers whose crops were destroyed by the Herders in the State. He said the process was very thorough and peculiar as they were able to put everything in shape. He said for now, they had been able to resolve more than ninety five percent (95%) cases of Herders- Farmers clashes, in the state , unlike before where they received hundreds and thousands of the petitions.
On the issue of robbery in the state,?
Adeleye said the strategy used in curbing the menace of this nefarious activities, was the action took by the government in banning the use of Motorcycle known as Okada, in the state after six pm (6:00pm) as the Riders were using this, in causing robberies in the state. He said it was a thug of war in bringing the Okada Riders, into a reality. He said they too, also ensured to let the public know that, despite the hardship of not using the Bike in the night, it’s still better for them to be safe. He said within one month of enforcement, they were able to reduce the crimes and other criminal activities of the armed robbers, to a bearest minimum, across the eighteen local government in the state.
Still on the robbery activities, Chief Agogun Adetunji said the boundary operations within the South West, had yieded a positive response, as more than hundred vehicles were recovered from the criminals. While some people that were kidnapped, also regained their freedom due to the joint efforts of Amotekun and other Security Agencies in the region, during the year 2021-2022 respectively.
Explaining further, Adeleye said the Operation ‘Gbá ilé Gbá ko’ (Combing the forest) is still ongoing, with the joint efforts of the other Security Agencies within the state. According to him, the purpose of this was to ensure that the Evil people, hidden in the forest to commit crimes were flushed out, so that Farmers and other people having their business activities in the forest can perform their legitimate business, without any fear of being kidnapped or killed by the Herdsmen. He said one of the clearance operations, of the efforts of the Security yielded positive response towards the release of the people that were kidnapped in the eighteen passenger vehicle, along Isua and the Ose, cum Edo State boundaries .
