The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, has condemned those criticising the creation of Amotekun, the Western Nigeria Security Network, by South-West governors.
Adams described the initiative as a “welcome development” that should have come even earlier than now.
Acc0rding to him, anyone or group against Amotekun is either a sadist or does not value human life.
The Yoruba generalissimo, who spoke with select journalists in Lagos, said that intelligence report available to him showed that the South-West geopolitical zone has been “infiltrated” by herdsmen and “criminals” from neighbouring countries.
Adams further disclosed that the region has also been taken over by cultists.
He added that Yoruba people were happy with Amotekun’s launch as it would help tackle these foreign elements.
Adams said, “Amotekun Operation is a welcome development and at the same time it is a belated idea that we have been expecting for a long time.
“I am one of those that gingered them to hold the South-West security summit that led to the formation of Amotekun. I can say authoritatively that Yoruba people are very happy with this initiative.
“Anybody critisising it is either the person is a sadist or that he did not value lives. Not only life but also the property someone acquired with his labour.
“Amotekun is not the same with state police we have been demanding before now. I see Amotekun as someone with fever that requires first aid treatment; otherwise you may not have the chance to administer the full treatment.
“Ordinarily we wanted state police but in the absence of that now, something must be done because state police is a constitutional issue that would have process of amendment of the constitution.
“But a security outfit that will be controlled by the governors is highly necessary now and not even next month.
“We know from intelligence report available to us that the Yoruba nation has been highly infiltrated. We have been infiltrated all over in the South West by criminals both from external forces from Niger, Chad, Mali, Libya and even our own people who are criminals.
“Some Yoruba people have turned something else. If you are talking of cultism in those days, you hardly hear about secret cults on the streets but only on campuses, but today, you have so many cult groups at motor parks, garages and in the streets.
“This is another serious threat apart from the herdsmen criminals that have infiltrated our ranks.
“To even add salt to the injury, President Muhammadu Buhari has also approved visa on arrival for some of the foreigners at our entry ports. This has also created fear for our people.
“We realise that we are under a siege but the issue of Amotekun will solve these issues of insecurity even beyond the menace of Fulani herdsmen.”
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