Amotekun will go on as planned, Akeredolu insists

* says security outfit created in Southwest’s interest

The governor of Ondo state, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, on Wednesday said the recently launched Southwest security outfit, ‘Operation Amotekun,’ will go on as planned.

This is coming a day after the federal government through the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, described ‘Operation Amotekun’ as illegal.

Akeredolu, who is the Chairman of the South West Governors’ Forum, gave the assurance today at the commemoration event of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day held at the Akure Cenotaph, in Ondo state.

The Ondo governor said that governors in the region are committed to the success of Amotekun to check incidences of banditry, kidnapping, farmers- herders clash across the Southwest region.

While reiterating that Amotekun is not a para-military outfit, Akeredolu noted that the introduction of the security outfit is to compliment the efforts of other security agencies.

“I wish to use this medium to thank the entire members of the Nigerian Armed Forces; most sincerely for controlling the crime before, during and after the Yuletide period through ‘Operation Crocodile Smile.’

“You will agree with me that your relentless efforts toward ensuring peace and order is beginning to yield positive results in Ondo state and our dear country in general.

“It is in our quest to further curtail the menace of kidnapping, banditry and other crimes in Ondo state and the entire Southwest region that we launched Operation “Amotekun” in Ibadan on Thursday, 9th January, 2020.

“It is one of the many solutions being proffered to our security challenges in Western Nigeria.

“We want to assure you that the activities of the personnel working for the outfit will be monitored and streamlined along their mandate of securing lives and property of people of Ondo state and the entire Western Nigeria and it will not be used for political purposes, ” Akeredolu said.