…Says “Amotekun can’t fight armed criminals with bare hands”
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, of Ondo State, has frowned at the statement by the Presidency in its response to his vow to arm the security outfit, ‘Amotekun’ Corps, in the State.
Recall that Akeredolu, a lawyer, who has been a consistent advocate for an approval for state security outfits to bear arms, recently accused the Federal Government of double standards having ‘approved’ the bearing of automatic weapons for Katsina State while denying Amotekun and others the same privilege.
He vowed to arm Amotekun with AK-47s to ensure adequate security for the State in the light of the new dimensions of security challenges in the country. But the presidency, in an issued statement by President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide, Garba Shehu, maintained that State security outfits had no power to bear automatic weapons.
However, Gov. Akeredolu, through his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, yesterday, said the submission by Shehu restraining State security outfits bearing automatic weapons, was no longer tenable in the face of increasing security challenges being faced by the people.
According to him, “It is illogical to continue to fight hardened marauders who bear sophisticated weaponry to kidnap and maim our people with bare hands. We cannot fight armed enemies of the people with our bare hands. It is our firm belief that the government has a fundamental duty to protect the people. It is a task that must be accomplished without excuse”.
He also hinted that the Southern Nigeria Governors Forum had called for the establishment of State Police with the support of the 19 Northern State Governors and Northern Traditional Rulers Council.
