Amotekun: Governors Move to Legalise Security Outfit in State Assemblies

Indications have shown that southwest governors are putting machinery in motion to give legal backing to the regional security outfit, codenamed Operation Amotekun which launched on January 9 this year.

This is coming on the heel of a statement released by Nigeria military vowing not to allow any individual or group to jeopardize the sovereignty and stability of Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

The military also told relevant stakeholders to join hands with the armed forces and intelligence agencies to ensure that Nigeria is secured and not to look for other methods likely to negate the national policy and Community Policing approved by President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

READ: Amotekun: Whether You Like It Or Not We Will Defend Ourselves, Fani-Kayode Tells FG

According to reliable sources, laws to back up Amotekun are before the southwest States Houses of Assemblies while the lawmakers are already fast-tracking the legislation.

“All machinery is in motion to pass the laws in all the Houses of Assembly in the zone legalising the establishment of Operation Amotekun,” a source said.

From all indications, the South West governors would do everything within their powers to provide adequate security for the people of the zone.

During the launch of the outfit about two weeks ago, the governors had said it was not a paramilitary organisation but an initiative to complement the various security agencies to tackle kidnappings and killings in the region.

Reacting to the launch, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami declared it illegal arguing that the outfit was not backed by any known law in the land and that he was not consulted before the outfit was launched.

Malami’s declaration has been greeted with a groundswell of condemnations from southwest leaders who urged their governors to ignore the Federal Attorney-General.

READ: Rejection of Amotekun Shows That FG Is Favouring Fulani Over Others – Yoruba Group

Speaking with the State House Correspondents after a security meeting presided over by President Buhari before his departure to London. at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, said the whole essence of the meeting was to critically evaluate what the armed forces of Nigeria, as well as other security and intelligence agencies, were doing with regard to ensuring that the territorial integrity of Nigeria was not undermined by any individual or group of individuals.

“I am sure you are also aware of the policy on Community Policing that was approved by Mr. President and it is going to be funded. The whole idea is to ensure that Nigeria is secured and Nigerians can go about pursuing their legitimate aspirations without any hindrance.”

“What we want to do here is to reassure Nigerians that the armed forces of Nigeria and indeed security and intelligence agencies in Nigeria are going to continue to work round the clock to ensure that our country is secured and to ensure that nobody undermines the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Nigeria.

“We are going to keep a very close watch on what is going on and with the equipment that we are getting, definitely, the challenges we are facing in some of the theaters of operation particularly the North East will be addressed adequately. We are doing everything with the other sister countries in the Lake Chad Basin working together to ensure that the Boko Haram terrorism is brought substantially to an end as quickly as possible,” Air Marshal Abubakar said.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *