Yuletide: Amotekun beefs up security, combs Ogun forests

The Western Nigeria Security Network Agency has assured residents in the South-West geopolitical zone of the safety of lives and properties at Christmas.

The state commands of the corps told Sunday PUNCH that they would deploy their operatives while working with the Nigeria Police and other security agencies.

In Ogun, the state Commander, David Akinremi, said at least 20 patrol vehicles, and 40 motorcycles had been acquired to tackle crime in the state.

“We are fully on the ground; part of our strategy is to deploy 20 patrol vehicles and 40 motorcycles for visibility patrol. We also have 400 approaches of this period alone so that the people can see us in all the nooks and crannies of the state.

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“We have some of our operatives working in remote areas, especially in our forests, to expose any threat. We have planned to join forces with other security agencies. We are also embarking on robust intelligence to tackle crime,” Akinremi added.

In Osun, the spokesperson, Yusuf Idowu, 300 operatives would be deployed to provide security across the state during the yuletide season.

“We are also embarking on high visibility vehicular and motorcycle patrols of all the nooks and crannies of the state to deter would-be criminal elements. We are deploying about 300 men during the celebrations,” he added

 He, however, called on residents to be conscious of their immediate environment, report suspicious movements to security agencies, and avoid undue exposure of valuables.

Similarly, the Ekiti State Commander, Brig. Gen. Joe Komolafe (retd.) said the corps was stepping up security efforts to ensure that the Christmas and New Year celebrations were hitch-free in the state.

Komolafe urged residents to be vigilant and give necessary and timely information to the corps and other security agencies. He also noted that part of Amotekun’s arrangement for a peaceful festive season in the state included placing operatives on alert to ensure the roads were safe and as well combing the forests when need be.

He said, “We have placed our men on the alert. Our operatives are embarking on mobile patrol of the roads and as well static checking at some locations including the borders with other states. For our borders with Osun and Ondo states, we have collaborated with other Amotekun (corps) in the sister states.

“Our phone lines at the different local governments are open. Each of the local government vehicles has phone numbers so that they can respond to emergencies and situations. People should check, and have the numbers so that if there is any emergency, they should call those numbers so that we can respond quickly.

 In Ondo State, the Amotekun Corps recently launched ‘ Operation Gbale Gbako (clear every nook and cranny) in a bid to make the state free of banditry and all forms of criminal activities.

The state Commander of the corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, told Sunday PUNCH that men of the corps had been deployed to strategic places across the state to ensure that the festive period was crime-free.

 He said, “I want to assure you that there will not be any security problems before, during, or after the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Our men are at every strategic place in the state. There won’t be any incident of robbery.

 “Robbery and kidnapping on the Ife-Ilesa -Akure highway have been tackled. We have three patrol vehicles on that highway. So, there won’t be any problem for travellers.

 “Though we still have some pockets of insecurity in some parts of the state, crime has drastically reduced in Ondo State.”

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Command of Amotekun, Olayinka Olayanju, said it was the duty of the police, not the security outfit, to disclose the mode of operation during the festive season.

Olayanju told Sunday PUNCH that the security outfit only collaborated with the police to ensure the safety of lives and property.

He added, “I’m not an entity to myself. Ask the police; they are the ones who are the lead agency in whatever we are doing. They are the head; they start it, and we collaborate with them.”