Pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere has warned governors
in the South- West region to stop giving Yoruba people a false sense of
security with the planned launch of the South-West security outfit
codenamed ‘Operation Amotekun’.
Speaking on the controversy that
has trailed the launch of the outfit, especially the claim by the Iba
Gani Adams, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland who said the governors
are not carrying him along, Afenifere said the governors are only
pretending to be doing something about the insecurity in the region.
Yinka
Odumakin, the organisation’s National Publicity Secretary said it is
surprising that the governors were silent when the Inspector General of
Police asked the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) to do joint patrol with
the Miyetti Allah cattle breeders who are responsible for the security
crisis in the region.
“Amotekun is an attempt to be seen to be
doing something about insecurity on the South West but they should not
give a false sense of security to our besieged people”.
“They
cannot say they have forgotten so soon that when the IGP came to hold
security summit in Ibadan, the communique he handed to them asked OPC to
do joint patrol with Miyeeti Allah the major source of insecurity in
the region.Is OPC involved in any security measure in the North?”
The
organisation also faulted reports by some security agencies who said
they cannot work with OPC members or local hunters because they are not
trained in security matters.
“We have had reports of uniformed
agencies saying they cannot work with OPC and hunters because they are
not trained. Are they the ones that trained Hisbah, which is Sharia
police in the North or Lafia Dole?”
“And our people are still
oblivious of the fact that what we face is a state sponsored programme
of ensuring that we remain vulnerable and never be in charge of our
insecurity? The government defends Miyetti Allah now and then and has
refused to disarm them of the illegal AK47s they are wielding all over”.
Afenifere
said there is nothing Amotekun can do to the Fulani herdsmen as they
are being given special preference by the federal government.
“They
have added to that by saying they will allow them to come in to the
country without visa. What will Amotekun do against a group that even
the regular police dare not touch?”
“Amotekun can deal with fowl
thieves and other petty criminals but not these ones on an invading
mission and heavily backed. The govenors have tried but what we need is
to insist on our autonomy to run our internal affairs. Those who will
allow Amotekun to work would have allowed stare police” Afenifere said.
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