The Pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Tuesday asked the federal government to allow security outfits set up by state governments to be equipped with requisite weapons.
Afenifere stated this in release by its national publicity secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, to condemn the kidnapping of four farmers at the Oyo state government farm settlement in Iseyin last Saturday.
Afenifere said in the statement that the circumstances surrounding the attack and how the gunmen were able to escape with their victims were further justifications for allowing security outfits set up by state governments to be equipped with requisite weapons.
The pan Yoruba socio political organisation said a top officer of Amotekun, who was coordinating security in the area said they got to the place on time to rescue the victims “but they could not do so because the attackers carried sophisticated weapons including AK47.”
Afenifere quoted the Amotekun officer as saying, “It was difficult for our men to confront them frontally because these assailants carried heavy arms with rounds of bullets around their bodies. It is not unlikely that they even wore bullet-proof jackets whereas the highest weapons in the hands of our officers were Dane guns.”
The pan Yoruba socio political organisation added that the said Amotekun officer noted that were they to have arms, the attackers would not have escaped as Amotekun officials were able to prevent terrorists from causing greater damage with the limited weapons they carried.
Calls have gone to the federal government to allow states that so desired to set up state and community police with all the necessary paraphernalia to enable them maintain security in their respective domains. Among advocates of such calls were Afenifere, Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom etc.”