South-West Nigeria Stakeholders Security Group has applauded the move by the governors to inaugurate the joint security task force codenamed “Operation Amotekun (leopard)” in the region.
Addressing a press conference in Lagos on Saturday, the group’s Convener and Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, hailed the initiative, saying the group was ready to complement efforts of the governors and the Inspector-General of Police in their plan to make the South-West safe for the people.
The meeting was attended by members of the group comprising leaders of the Oodua Peoples Congress, the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, the South-West Hunters Association, the Agbekoyas, South-West Agbekoya Group, Agbekoya Farmers Society Group, Yoruba Youth Council and the Community Security Awareness Initiative Corps of Nigeria, among others.
He, however, said the group had not been contacted by the governors on the modus operandi, especially the recruitment of members of the group for the security outfit, with just five days to the commencement of the initiative.
Adams noted that it was necessary that members of the outfit were people known and whose integrity could be vouched for, saying anything short of that would amount to an exercise in futility.
He further said efforts to curb the security challenges in the region was beginning to yield positive results, pointing out that the group since its inception in July 2019 had made significant efforts to tackle insecurity in the region.
He also said there was the need to create a workable synergy between the security outfits and the leaders at the grass-roots.
Adams said, “All over the world, the security of lives and property remains the top priority of every government. It is when the country is safe and secure that we can think of other things. That is why as a group, we have made an effort to form alliance to make the region safe.“
Adams expressed the group’s readiness to take the issue seriously without leaving room for failure. He added that though the insecurity situation had reduced drastically with the emergence of the group, the situation had become tense with the recent invasion of some communities in the South-West.
He said, “The security situation in the South-West is not something to write home about. For instance, people cannot travel during the festive period because of fear of kidnappers and marauders that kill and maim at will.
“A situation whereby a traditional ruler in Akure, Ondo State, was kidnapped and asked to pay a huge ransom before he was released and that of a Catholic priest was worrisome. It brought up a new challenge. We have been keeping quiet not because we are bereft of ideas or solution.
“We need to match our words with actions. But now they have involved us by name but not by contact. They have not contacted all the leaders. However, we must appreciate them because we are ready to provide a lasting solution to the menace in the region. We will do our best to secure the region.”
Adams said there was the need for the governors to engage people with the strength of character and integrity, especially on security, adding that the group was ready to set up a liaison committee with the security advisers in the South-West states to advise them on security matters.
“We are alerting the world that the issue of security should not be taken lightly or politicised because if this new initiative fails or boomerangs, we are not to be blamed,” he added.