AKURE – The Ondo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun Corps, says that it is not against any particular ethnic group but against criminalities across the state.
The Commander of the Corps in the state, Adetunji Adeleye, stated this in an interview with newsmen on Friday in Akure.
Adeleye explained that the establishment of the Corps in 2020 by the South-West states governments was to address the dwindling security situation in the geo-political zone.
He disclosed that the Corps had also used reconciliatory mechanisms to address herders/ farmers conflicts which he said had drastically abated in the state.
According to him, anybody that commits crime, either a Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa will face the wrath of the law without hesitation.
The Amotekun Commander noted that the intervention of the security agency had drastically reduced the crime rate in the state to about 10 per cent as a result of its doggedness and transparency.
“Our decision to ban Okada operations at night brought the criminal activities in Ondo State to almost 10 per cent from 100 per cent.
“At a point, the number of criminals arrested could no longer be contained within the existing judicial system. So, we approached the judiciary.
“Without reverting to government, from within our little purview, we were able to construct what today stands as Amotekin Court.
“The judiciary graciously gave us judges and magistrates such that there is quick dispensation of criminal justice because we also believe that justice delayed is justice denied.
“In the last five years, I stand tall to say that Amotekun personnel cannot be accused of taking one naira for bail or gratification.
“Of course there’s always Judas, we have our own in-house mechanism of dealing with such, and when we see them as dissidents and miscreants, we show them the way out,” he told NAN.
Adeleye said that the Amotekun Corps has been able justify its creation in the last five years, adding that the state government had given the security agency the will to carry out its operation without undue interference.
He added that the Amotekun operatives were currently stationed in eight different locations in the forest reserves in the state to flush out kidnappers.
According to him, the effort has significantly contributed to boosting the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the state.
The Amotekun Commander, therefore, lauded the assistance of other security agencies, describing them as partners in peace of the state.
“It’s not as if Amotekun does it alone. Our tracking devices are being superintended over and assisted by a sister security agency.
“The Directorate of State Security Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Police, and the Nigerian Army have been of fantastic assistance to the core.
“We have had cause to run to them for help, and in all cases, they had equally joined us in combating crime in the state,” Adeleye said. (NAN)
