Greater Oyo State Movement on Monday at the tollgate end of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway reviewed the security situation along the road and decried the renewed wave of kidnappings on the Ogun State axis of the road.
Their coordinator, Comrade Adekola Bamgbade told reporters that the last week’s news on the fresh kidnappings called for the concerted efforts of all and sundry especially now that Christmas and the new year festivities are around the corner.
Speaking on the aftermath of the Street Journals report entitled: “Kidnappers return to Lagos-Ibadan expressway, abduct commuters for ransom”, Bamgbade said the Oyo State Government must be commended for atleast dispatching teams of Amotekun to both sides of the road at every assigned points, but there is a disturbing information concerning the welfare of Amotekun corps whose morales appeared to have gone down seriously.
“Yes, this is so because a number of Amotekun Corps manning those locations and working day and night to protect our people are allegedly being owed 7 months allowance by Governor Seyi Makinde.
“I don’t want to believe this is true but if yes, the Governor should rather put in place enduring plan to motivate these guys for them to do their work with little or no supervision.
“A situation where allowances that would serve as morale booster for the security guys are being owed in an excess of over seven months, quite a lot needed to be done immediately to salvage the situation.
“Governor Seyi Makinde has been praised for being a pro-workers at all levels. Now is the time that Amotekun Corps need his support to secure the road for the greater good of the people plying the rout and more importantly, those who would be coming into the country for the Yuletide celebrations.
“These Amotekun guys claimed they are suffering in silence and dare not cry out. But as a group seeking the best for our State, moreso that security is a joint efforts of all, the need to help them cry out becomes more imperative.
Reports say Makinde’s achievements in security in the past year include providing support infrastructure for security operatives in the state. The government provided operational vehicles, walkie-talkies, steel helmets, bulletproof jackets, combat boots and other security equipment.
Oyo Amotekun marked one year since its operationalization, and Governor Makinde approved recruiting an additional 500 corps members. The Oyo State Government also handed over 100 additional operational vehicles to Oyo Amotekun, which have been deployed in all 33 local government areas of Oyo State.
