Makinde donates N2.5m each to families of 13 deceased Amotekun personnel

In marking one year of the kick-off of the Oyo State Security Network Agency codenamed Amotekun, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Thursday, handed over cheques worth N2.5million each to families of Amotekun corps members who died in the line of duty.

This is just as he also unveiled the state headquarters of The Oyo State Security Network Agency and Amotekun Corps sited at Conpole Agbaakin, along Old Moniya-Oyo Road, Akinyele, Ibadan.

As stated by Makinde, a total of 13 Amotekun corps members died over the course of one year with the Oyo zone of the state losing the highest number of men.

The data reeled out showed that the Oyo zone lost six out of the 13 deceased Amotekun corps members, Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun zones each lost three personnel while Ibadan lost one personnel.

Those who died were Adenrele Muritala (Ibarapa Central), Adewuyi Nurudeen (Oluyole), Falola Friday (Ibarapa North), Segun Ewerinde (Iwajowa), Sulaimon Quadri (Atiba), Adeagbo Ibrahim (Ibarapa North).

Others are Salawu Tajudeen (Kajola), Bello Adijat (Oyo East), Kamorudeen Abiola (Oyo East), Azeez Ibrahim (Iwajowa), Tijani Babatunde (Atiba), Salau Sukurat (Atiba).

Speaking, Makinde described the deceased personnel as heroes, assuring that the state will support families left behind by the slain Amotekun officers.

Aside from honouring those who died, Makinde praised those still in service, assuring that his administration will continue to invest in security.

He said the state was enjoying relative peace, in recent times, due to effective collaboration between Amotekun and the regular security agencies.

He said: “There were few hitches along the way. At some points, people even called for the scrapping of the Corps but this was not unexpected. “Remember that Amotekun Corps was operationalised just as Nigeria was recovering from the EndSARS protests.

“There was already a lot of bad blood against anyone who represents them or work as a security agent.

“So, it became imperative for us to ensure that the Corps members never acted beyond their constitutional powers and authorities.

“From time to time, we have had to punish errant officers. However, for the most part, members of the Amotekun Corps have served our state diligently. Some of them have even paid the supreme price in a bid to secure our lives and properties.

“So, to our Amotekun Corps, on our part, we will continue to support you with the necessary equipment you need to carry out your duties. As we celebrate the first anniversary today, let us, again, be reminded that even though we have the Amotekun Corps supporting other security agencies in keeping our state safe, security is still everyone’s business.”

Makinde explained that the choice of Akinyele as the location for the headquarters of Amotekun Corps is because he envisages that in 10 years time, the local government will be the centre of Ibadan and the richest in the state.

While giving his own remark, Amotekun state commandant, Colonel Olayinka Olayanju (rtd) added that 32 officers were also nursing various injuries from gunshot wounds and fractured bones.

This is as he said that 37 personnel had been summarily dismissed for various offences within the last one year.
Olayanju said the personnel were dismissed for offences ranging from extortion to illegal activities, extrajudicial killings, theft and insubordination.

Olayanju said: “Our personnel are integral to our organisation’s achievements. It is important to recognise them as the people who have made our modest success possible.

“Some of them even paid the supreme price while others are nursing different injuries sustained from various operations.

“Unfortunately, we lost 13 personnel in action while 32 are nursing various injuries from gunshot wounds and fractured bones.

“Recognising the efforts of all personnel of the Corps signals to them that they are valuable members of the organisation and that the work they do makes an impact.

“This acknowledgement, in turn, has the power to yield positive benefits to the organisation such as increased morale, satisfaction and loyalty.

“We must concede that there are some of us that are not as proficient and skilled as we expect them to be. Consequently, we accept that our men have not been the best in imbibing the culture of discipline, professionalism and other values required to earn the full confidence of the people but the Amotekun Corps is a work in progress.

“Whenever any of our operatives have erred, we were quick to impose the full weight of the law on such individuals.

“Just so to appreciate our zero-tolerance for indiscipline, 37 personnel of Amotekun have been summarily dismissed for various offences ranging from extortion, illegal activities, extrajudicial killings, theft and insubordination in the last one year.”

Earlier, the State Chairman of the Amotekun Corps, General Kunle Togun (rtd) thanked governor Makinde for his support and the confidence he has in the agency.

Awards were later presented by Governor Seyi Makinde to Kazeem Akinro as Most Outstanding and Committed Operative, Fakayode Adebowale as Best Zonal Coordinator, Saheed Abdul-Ganiyu as Best Unit Coordinator and Oladele Oluwaseun Adelanke as Most Productive Female Operative.

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Makinde donates N2.5m each to families of 13 deceased Amotekun personnel