G POLITICS: SOUTH WEST STATES PREPARED FOR AMOTEKUN SECURITY OPERATION IN 2020 TO CURB THE KILLINGS IN THE STATES

South-West governors will on January 7, implant Operation Amotekun, a security strategy meant to combat killings and kidnapping in the zone.

According to the the Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Mr Muyiwa Olumilua, who stated in an interview recenctly that vehicles and equipment for the security outfit are ready.

He stated that the inauguration was delayed by the need for all the states to be adequately ready in terms of meeting certain requirements, mainwhile the governors had in September, after a meeting in Akure, that they would set up  an Operation Amotekun security motive due to the serial killings and kidnapping in the zone by Fulani herdsmen because report had it that some time in June,  certain gunmen who were suspected to be herdsmen, killed  Funke Olakunri, a daughter of the Afenifere leader, Reuben Fasoranti, on the Ondo-Ore road.

Therefore,there were cases of kidnapping, including the abduction of a lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Prof. Olayinka Adegbehingbe, in May, at the Ikoyi/Apomu junction of the Ibadan-Ife Expressway in Ikire, a border town between Osun and Oyo states.

Also, a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and four others were kidnapped at the Ogbere area of Ogun State in August.

Various Leaders of  the Yoruba race from some ethnic groups such as the Oodua Peoples Congress and Agbekoya, had it in November with a statement that they were waiting for the South-West governors to request personnels from them so as to join the security outfit. During an interview with the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Gani Adams, had, on November 10 with Punch, he said, “The present stage is that the group is awaiting the response of the governors so that we can know the number of security personnel needed.”

But three months after the governors said they would start the operation, the security outfit had yet to be inaugurated despite the worsening security situation in the zone.

For instance, members of the Orin-Ekiti community in the Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State recently lamented that the invading herdsmen had vandalised farms worth N50m owned by 70 farmers in the area.

The Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Olumilua, in the interview with The PUNCH, said,  “Everything is set now. On the 7th of January, it (Operation Amotekun) will be launched obviously and all the states have to be on the same page. They were trying to be sure that all requirements were in place. Following his statement that at the moment all the states were ready with their requirements and January is slated for the commencement. It is not a matter of contribution of money but it is about equipment, vehicles and other things he said.