Akeredolu Urge FG to Allow Amotekun Bear Weapons

The Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, has asked the Federal Government to allow Amotekun Corps to bear sophisticated weapons to protect lives and properties.

The governor stated this on Wednesday at the inauguration of the newly reconstructed office complex on the Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission in Oba-Ile, in the Akure North Local Government Area of the state.

Akeredolu stated his current stance on the surveillance contract for oil pipelines given to private people and organisations, saying that his attitude was to allow Amotekun to use advanced weapons like the non-state actors hired to protect the oil pipelines.

Akeredolu lamented the shaky security scenario in the nation and vowed to keep going head-on in defending the state’s citizens.

He said: “Most of the people and even some of my colleagues didn’t really understand my position on the oil pipeline surveillance contract. I have no issue with the Federal Government awarding surveillance contracts to anybody. It is Federal Government’s money. They can use it anyhow they want.

“Here, we are spending our money on Amotekun. And what I said in my statement titled ‘Who actually needs weapon’ was that the Federal Government should allow Amotekun to carry sophisticated weapons like those they awarded pipeline surveillance contracts.

“If you can allow individuals to carry heavy arms to protect pipelines, why won’t you allow Amotekun to carry sophisticated weapons to protect the people. The oil facilities are not more important than the lives of the people,” he said.

After some burial guests were kidnapped in Ifon on Saturday, Governor Akeredolu revealed that some arrests had been made in connection with the incident. He claimed that the victims who had been freed were afraid to return and find their kidnappers.

He commended Amotekun and all the state’s security organisations for their outstanding efforts in achieving the victims’ release.