Dr.Kayode Fayemi, Executive Governor of Ekiti state has signed operation Amotekun bill into law.
The six Governors of Southwest states launched the security outfit to combat the menace of banditry, kidnapping, killings which have become rampant in the southwest region.
Funminiyi Afuye, Speaker of Ekiti state house of Assembly presented the bill to the Governor at Jibowu hall at the state government house in Ado-Ekiti.
The Governor who signed the bill on Monday reiterated that Amotekun was not a substitute for law enforcement agencies in the state but it would rather complement their efforts in combatting crime.
He further stated that Amotekun will see to the protection of the lives and properties of Ekiti state residents and not only indigenes.
“As a responsible and responsive government,it is our belief that security is significant and we won’t toy with security of lives and property.
“The current challenges of proliferation of small arms, ritual killings, banditry, youth restiveness, cattle rustling, insurgency and terrorism are daunting.
“In tackling some of these menaces, which surfaced in the southwest region, the governors in the zone officially launched Western Nigeria Security Network in Ibadan on Jan 20, 2020 at and the bill that will form the legal framework was passed by the State House of Assembly.
“Let me clarify that Amotekun will help the police to arrest, gather intelligence and information, arrest and prosecution of criminals, tackle illegal mining, land trespass, cattle rustling, destruction of crops, tresspass into farmlands, cultism, highway robbery, among others.
“Amotekun is not a substitute to the existing security networks, but a complement to it. It is not for Ekiti people alone, but for everybody. As long as you are resident in Ekiti, you enjoy the right to be protected, so it is not for the indigenes alone.
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“Crime fighting is a collective responsibility. Those perpetrating crimes are living among us and let us be vigilant and help the Amotekun Corps fish out criminals in our midst”
Fayemi noted that the process of recruiting officers will be a careful one as local handlers will be assigned to areas that are familiar to them in order to maximize their efficiency.
“The issues of recruitment, training and deployment will be carefully considered. All the operatives will work in areas where they understand better”.