Insecurity: 'Allow Amotekun To Bear Weapons' — Ondo Monarch Begs FG

An Ondo Monarch has begged the Federal Government to allow Amotekun to bear weapons.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the monarch of Akure kingdom, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, Odundun II, has appealed to the Federal Government to consider the need to approve sophisticated weapons for the Western Security Network code-named Amotekun Corps.

He said the need for Amotekun Corps to complement the already stretched federal police could no longer be overemphasised.

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The Akure monarch, who spoke while declaring open the annual Ulefunta lecture series, said the issue of security had become worrisome in the face of uncertainty and worsening security situation ranging from banditry to kidnapping, oil theft and terrorism.

He said Amotekun Corps, as one of the home grown approaches to tackle insecurity, was yielding the desired result.

Oba Aladetoyinbo said the huge success recorded by Amotekun Corps was due to the fact that the traditional rulers were involved and carried along in the scheme of things.

He said: “It is clear that the reality has dawned on us on the need for the involvement of our traditional institutions as a means of providing home grown approach to curb insecurity.

“Through our home grown approach, our efforts yielded much result such that about 850 youths renounced cultism in Akure kingdom.

The state government appreciated this effort and many kingdoms took similar initiatives to rid their areas of criminals and rascals.

“Let me raise my voice on behalf of other traditional rulers on the need for the government to include traditional rulers in the scheme of things by giving us a constitutional role.”

“The traditional institutions can no longer continue to play a mere advisory role with no defined and specific role that can make them contribute to the protection of lives and property.”

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, represented by his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, insisted that the Ondo Amotekun Corps would be legally equipped with sophisticated weapons.

He warned traditional rulers to stop expansionist tendencies.

“We wish to caution monarchs to desist from incursion into other kingdoms and stop expansionist tendencies.

These unauthorised or illegal annexations of territories outside traditional rulers’ jurisdictions threaten peace. Stay within your jurisdiction so that we can have peace.