Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi on Monday signed into law the State Security Network Agency popularly known as Amotekun bill with a warning to criminals to stay away from the state.
The governor signed the bill into law inside the Lady Jibowu Hall in the government house in Ado-Ekiti, on Monday, with traditional rulers, vigilante groups, hunters associations, Agbekoyas and other stakeholders in attendance, making the state to join Ondo, Oyo and Osun states who had earlier signed into law the Amotekun bill.
It will be recalled that the state of the House of Assembly had on February 14 passed the security outfit after the necessary legislative procedures including a public hearing.
Fayemi said the security and well-being of the people remained paramount to his administration, noting that the establishment of the security network was a child of necessity considering the security challenges in the state and the entire South-West states.
He warned criminals planning to unleash mayhem in the state to have a rethink or stay away from the state, saying, “Amotekun will get them and they will be prosecuted.”
He reiterated that the Amotekun initiative was conceptualised to collaborate and complement the efforts of the security agencies in stamping out killings, kidnappings, highway robberies and other heinous crimes in the state.
According to the governor, the security outfit had no ethnic or religious colouration. He promised that every law-abiding resident of the state will be adequately protected. He added that the government would ensure that rights of citizens are well protected in the course of the operation of Amotekun corps.
Fayemi said, “Today is significant in the history of our state, as a people as we give the legal backing to the Amotekun designed for us to solve the security challenges in the state and of course the region and which has also brought out the ‘Omoluabi’ in us.
“The security and well-being of our people is non-negotiable because it will help the socio-economic development of the state. We are determined to make Ekiti free of any crimes because it is the duty of the government to protect lives and property.
“Amotekun will collaborate with and assist other security agencies in gathering information about crimes, crime investigation, arrest and prosecution of persons suspected to involve in kidnappings, killings, cattle rustling, cultism, highway robberies and other criminal activities. It is not a substitute for our existing security agencies but to complement.
“Crime fighting is a collective responsibility and all hands must be on deck to ensure will defeat crimes in our state. Let us be vigilant and be sensitive to strange movements and report to our security agents. I have directed that all our royal fathers should play active roles in the recruitment, training and deployment of the corps.
“Let’s use this opportunity to warn criminal elements to stay away from Ekiti State as Amotekun will get them wherever they are if they refuse to leave.”
Fayemi declared that the recruitment exercise would be conducted in strict collaboration with traditional rulers at the grassroots, noting that, “every Amotekun corps will work and function at their various domains.”
Speaking earlier, the speaker of the State House of Assembly, Funminiyi Afuye explained that the main function of government was the protection of lives and property of the citizens, adding that the new security outfit would not be in competition with existing security agencies rather for maintenance of law and order.
The chairman of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Ajibade Alabi, who commended the governors in the region for coming out with the security initiative, assured that monarchs would offer the necessary support for the success of the network.
Oba Alabi advised the government to painstakingly place more priority on the recruitment, training and deployment of the Amotekun corps, noting that the tripod if not properly done could mar the efficiency of the outfit.
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