From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
Ondo state Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu has declared that the Western Nigeria Security Network Agency codenamed Amotekun Corps is effectively filling the vacuum created by the overstretched conventional security agencies, particularly the police in the state.
Governor Akeredolu noted that Amotekun Corps is a product of circumstance which is essentially created to fill the obvious security gap in the state for the security of all.
The Governor stressed that Amotekun’s efforts with the help of other security agencies have brought relative peace to the state.
He spoke at the Cocoa Conference hall of the Governor’s office while playing host to the participants of Course 30 of the National Defence College (NDC), Abuja, led by the Commandant, Rear Admiral Oladele Daji.
Governor Akeredolu who particularly commended the military for ensuring the peace and security in the country, disclosed that his administration has enjoyed necessary support and cooperation from all heads of security agencies in the state including the Nigerian Army, the Police, the NSCDC, the DSS, the NIA and others.
The Governor insisted that no genuine herder would graze his herd of cow with AK-47, just as he said any herder who destroys any farmland in the state would be made to pay compensation to the affected farmer.
He also added that Amotekun Corps now engage in road patrol to further ensure the security of lives and property of all residents across the state.
Governor Akeredolu also said many states in the country have signed Anti-Open Grazing laws to protect the people and their means of livelihood, just as he insisted that the issue of grazing routes would not work in the country because the country can no longer continue to live in the past.
He stressed that the country needs a multi-leveled policing with special attention to state police to effectively secure the lives and property of the citizens.
Earlier, the Commandant, National Defence College, Abuja, Rear Admiral Oladele Daji, who lauded the Governor for the security and industrial strides recorded so far, expressed confidence that the products of the participants’ research would go a long way at assisting in policy inputs towards delivery of good governance and ensure security of the the state.
He applauded the Governor for the way he handled the issue of farmers/herders clashes in the state to ensure peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders.