…as pioneer Amotekun Corps operatives pass out
Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the Police Service Commission to recruit more police personnel and increase funding to the force.
Akeredolu said it had become imperative for new policies to be developed and strategies adopted to nip crime in the bud.
He spoke in Akure during the passing out of the pioneer Amotekun Corps operatives.
The governor urged traditional rulers to cooperate with the Amotekun corps and encourage them with all lawful assistance.
Akeredolu said, “Conventional policing must be revamped and strengthened; we must invest in the police if we want them to be effective. We cannot have commands in states without funding; it does not make sense.
“As we progress in the fight against crime, we will continue to provide logistics for their support. But with the launch of Amotekun, it shall be no retreat, no surrender; we will not be intimidated or blackmailed.
“This is not a parallel security structure to any of the security agencies. Rather, it is to complement what is on ground so that together they can achieve a safer environment, conducive enough to encourage foreign investors and rid our state of crime and criminally-minded elements.”
Chairman of the Ondo Traditional Rulers’ Council and Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Frederick Obateru Akinruntan, warned operatives of the Amotekun corps against collecting bribe.
The monarch urged them to make the state proud by carrying out their duties diligently
Commander of the corps, Chief Ade Adeleye, said the men have been trained in intelligence gathering, handling of non-firearms and crowd control, among others.