Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, says he should be held responsible for the actions of Amotekun corps in the state.
During the inauguration of the state chapter of the Western Nigeria Security Network in Oyo town on Wednesday, the governor tasked the 1500 members of the corps not to harass or intimidate the people they were established to protect.
He also said only state policing can make governors to play the role of chief security officers of their states.
“As I said in one of my speeches following the ENDSARS protest, this is one outfit that I can boldly say, and I am saying it, hold me responsible for the actions of the members,” Makinde said.
“We have requested from the inspector general of police another mobile police squadron that will be based in Oyo town. As I have argued on various fora, for governors to really play the role of chief security officers of their states, state policing is the way forward.
“I am confident that someday, we will get enough support at the national level to achieve that constitutional review. But for now, we will settle for the next best thing; the Western Nigeria Security Network code named Amotekun. It is an independent outfit. Members will answer to the state governors but they will be working with the federal security agencies.”
While highlighting the roles of the corps, the governor said that their primary functions as authorised by law included collaborating with and assisting the Nigerian police and other security agencies in gathering information.
They will be involved in crime prevention, investigation of crime, arrest and prosecution of persons suspected of kidnapping, terrorism, destruction of livelihood, criminal damage to properties, cultism, highway robbery and any other illegal activities,” he said.
“They will also be involved in routine day and night patrol on major roads and remote areas. Members of this corps will be drafted to all the 351 wards in Oyo state. They will be our own community police so that their presence will be felt everywhere in the state. This ensures that offenders are quickly identified, arrested and promptly handed over to the nearest police station.”