South West governors have approved joint operation for the operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, to patrol the entire region in order to enhance inter-border patrol during the yuletide season.
Chairman of the South West Governors Forum, Rotimi Akeredolu, who disclosed this on Tuesday during the flag-off of the inter-border patrol in Owena town, a boundary community between Osun and Ondo States, said the steps became necessary to provide adequate security to the people of the region.
Akeredolu, who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Security, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo, described the decision as a round peg in a round hole, adding that the exercise will involve officers patrolling the roads, towns, and villages within the region 24 hours every day.
According to Akeredolu, the governors approved the joint operation to check banditry, kidnapping, and wanton destruction of lives, property, and other security challenges which he said had reduced drastically in the region.
“We are the one coordinating all the commanders. The steps and actions that commanders are taking have received the blessings of all the governors.
“The people should cooperate with Amotekun because they are there for their own interest. They should help Amotekun to help themselves,” Akeredolu said.
Speaking, the Ondo State Commander of Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, revealed that about 310 personnel had been deployed to all the border routes in the South West region to enhance inter-border patrol during the festive season.
Adeleye, who is also the chairman of Amotekun Commanders in the region, said the exercise will involve officers patrolling the roads, towns and villages from Osun to Ondo.
He said: “It will guarantee the safety of vehicles plying the roads especially during this yuletide period where we expect a heavy flow of vehicles day and night.
“This is in continuation of our operation ‘clean up’ which has yielded tremendous results in the area of curbing criminal activities in the state. It is now being extended to Osun, Ekiti, Ogun so that we can be sure that this New Year and Christmas festivities will be hitch-free.
“It is going to be a routine that will go on throughout this period until the New Year. After the New Year celebration, we will review the security situation, to determine if it should be continued.
“We have deployed 750 men across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State. We have also set aside 210 men for the patrol of the borders cutting across Ekiti, Ogun through the riverine area and we are also going to cover from Ilesa to Owena to Akure in conjunction with 100 personnel from Osun.”
According to Adeleye, men of the Amotekun Corps will work round the clock with other security agencies to ensure that the yuletide period is free of crime,adding that timely information by drivers, commuters, and residents will go a long way in helping the agency to achieve its end result.
