The Inspector-General of Police, Adamu Mohammed announced that Amotekun is no longer a regional outfit after meeting with South-West Governors in Lagos on Thursday February 13.
Speaking to newsmen at the end of the meeting, Governor of Ondo State Rotimi Akeredolu disclosed that they had a fruitful discussion with the IGP. He also revealed that Amotekun was not conceived as a regional police, but as a state-based security outfit.
Akeredolu said;
“In addition, we have spoken and we want everyone to know that, Amotekun was not conceived as a regional police, but a state-based security outfit.
“We have come out of this meeting happy and we have agreed on the resolution. We have shed lights on dark areas and we are on the same page with the police with respect to these issues.”
On his own part, IGP Mohammed Adamu said Amotekun will now operate as a state initiative in collaboration with community policing strategy. He further disclosed that the police would be part of the recruitment, training and deployment of personnel to be assigned for Amotekun operations.
Adamu said;
“Amotekun is not a regional security outfit. Every state has one form of security arrangement, whether it is vigilante or neighbourhood watch that are working security agencies in the states to fight crime.
“Amotekun is not different from these initiatives. We have agreed that community policing strategy be infused into the Amotekun structure, so that policing will be initiative of the community members.”
Also speaking at the end of the meeting, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State said the security outfit is part of the effort of the Governors in the South-West region to check insecurity in their respective states.
