Joint security outfit “Amotekun” will not bear arms – Oyetola 

Against the fear earlier express by some individual consigning militarizing the southwest states with new Joint security outfit tagged Amotekun, some clarification has been made the Governor of Osun state. Local hunters and Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) members who will serve in the Joint Southwest security outfit Operation Amotekun will not bear arms, it was learnt on Wednesday.

Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola stated this in Osogbo.

Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary Mr. Ismail Omipidan, Oyetola explained: “It is not that we want to arm the local militias. “the idea behind it (Operation Amotekun) is not necessarily to arm the locals. We are fashioning it after the Civilian JTF in the Northeast.” “The level of success recorded in the fight against Boko Haram was made possible by the support and cooperation of the Civilian JTF because they are the locals who gather intelligence and know their areas better than anybody.”

The governor’s spokesman added: “Before now, we had prepared ground for the launch. We acquired the vehicles which are fully branded and equipped with communication gadgets.

“A helipad to assist the security agents for air surveillance is about 97 per cent completed. The personnel have also been recruited.”

Vehicles to be used by the operatives started arriving Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Wednesday in preparation for Thursday’s inauguration.

The event will take place at the Governor’s office premises in state secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan today.

Those of Ekiti, Lagos and Ogun states were expected last night or this morning before the commencement of the ceremony.