The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to Governor Seyi Makinde’s revelation that the state has lost more than 200 operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun, describing the development as alarming and unacceptable.
The opposition party made its position known in a statement issued on Thursday by its Publicity Secretary, Wasiu Sadare.
According to the APC, the governor owes residents of the state a detailed explanation regarding the circumstances surrounding the reported deaths of the security operatives.
The party argued that providing further details would help identify gaps within the system and ensure better protection for both Amotekun personnel and residents of the state.
“For Oyo to have recorded such a high number of fatalities among its security team, it indicates that crime rates in the state have reached the crescendo while the state government covers up a whole lot of things,” the statement read.
The APC said the governor’s disclosure had raised serious concerns about the welfare, working conditions and operational structure of the Amotekun Corps.
The party also alleged that there had been inadequate collaboration between the state-backed security outfit and federal security agencies.
“From our own discreet investigations, we found that Gov. Makinde has failed to work a synergy between the Corps and the federal security agencies on account of needless ego and cluelessness,” the party claimed.
The opposition further advised the state government to engage experienced security experts in developing strategies to tackle the growing security challenges confronting Oyo State.
It also criticised the alleged deployment of Amotekun personnel to private establishments linked to influential individuals.
According to the APC, the practice of assigning operatives to hotels, private properties and business facilities belonging to friends and political associates of the governor should be discontinued.
“The practice whereby Amotekun Corps members are being deployed to man hotels, properties and business facilities belonging to friends and political associates of the governor should be stopped,” the statement added.
The party stressed that Amotekun operatives should instead be deployed strictly in line with the objectives for which the security outfit was established.
It also called for the recruitment of qualified personnel and urged the government to prioritise regular training, retraining and improved welfare packages for officers.
The APC maintained that better equipment, adequate motivation and improved working conditions would help reduce operational risks while boosting the effectiveness of the corps.
Governor Makinde had reportedly disclosed that Oyo State had lost over 200 Amotekun operatives, a revelation that has sparked fresh debate over the security situation in the state and the welfare of personnel engaged in frontline security operations.
