Amotekun: Miyetti Allah seeks inclusion as Lagos, Oyo, Ondo stage public hearing

The controversy generated by the establishment of Operation Amotekun appears to be dying down as the Miyyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) said it had nothing against the establishment of the security initiative.

The body spoke at the public hearings which held simultaneously at the Oyo, Lagos and Ondo states’ House of Assemblies Monday.

The six governors in the South-west states recently launched the security outfit which generated heated controversies over its legality or otherwise.

At the height of the controversies, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubakara Malami (SAN), met with the governors at the end of which it was agreed that necessary legal framework be fashioned out  for the outfit’s operation.

Public hearings

Speaking at the Oyo state version of the public hearing ‘Oyo State Security Network Agency Bill, 2020, also known as Amotekun bill,’ a former chairman of MACBAN, Alhaji Yaqub Bello, called for the inclusion of its members in the proposed initiative in the state.

While expressing the association’s support for the security initiative, Bello insisted that only haters of truth would oppose such a move.

“Some of us have been in Oyo state for over 40 years, cohabiting with the natives, married Yoruba women and have children. So, our request is to include Myetti Allah as members of Operation Amotekun to enhance the job of the outfit, since we know the terrain of where we rear our cattle.

“Having Fulani among the outfit will make it easier for Amotekun men to distinguish between genuine herdsmen and the criminals while on patrol.

“A Fulani man can also serve as an interpreter while interrogating any suspected herdsman,” Bello said.

He admitted that the major objective of the initiative was to curb criminal activities in the society and not to witch-hunt any particular body or ethnic group.

Describing his members as law abiding, he said none of them had been involved in any form of criminal activity, adding that rather, they had been carrying out their legitimate business, that is, cattle rearing.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other speakers at the public hearing included representative of the Nigerian Police Force, the Peace Corps and the Agbekoya Farmers’ Association.

Others were the Local Hunters’ Group, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Political Awareness Group and representatives of Chief Gani Adams, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land.

Mrs. Funke Fawole, who represented the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sina Olukolu, said the outfit should act in accordance with the provision of the Fire Arms Acts, if the personnel must carry arms.

Fawole also said men of the outfit should be properly trained on the use of arms and ammunition to avoid its misuse.

In his contribution, Chief Gboyega Adejumo, who represented Gani Adams, said issuance of license for firearms was very vital for the operations of the security outfit.

He said the use of Dane gun would not be effective for their operations, saying hoodlums and criminal-minded persons might use the chance of not carrying arms to attack the operatives.

Also, Prof Abideen Olaiya, representative of the Muslim community in the state, urged the operatives of Amotekun not to use it to settle political scores or as an avenue for jungle justice.

Earlier, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Oyelowo Oyewo, said part of the objectives of the security outfit was to share intelligence report about crime, crime in progress, suspicious activities and other criminal activities.

“Others include collaboration with similar security agency, particularly in Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti states to deter kidnapping, terrorism, cattle rustling, cultism, highway robbery and other offences, and also to assist the police in apprehending such criminals.

“It is also meant to protect lives and property within the state and ensure that people travelling on the highways, major roads, remote areas, hinterland, forest and inland waterways carry out their normal socio-economic activities without fear or hindrance,” Oyewo stated.

NAN reports that the Amotekun bill committee, headed by Mr Akeem Obadara, the State House of Assembly Committee Chairman on Security and Strategy, received 22 memoranda.

NAN also reports that Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Abiodun Fadeyi, presided over the public hearing.

Lagos

Also in Lagos, similar sentiment was expressed by the cattle breeders who said they had nothing against the Amotekun initiative.

The public hearing had in attendance the Lagos Arewa community/MACBAN, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Muslim community, Community Development Associations (CDAs), Community Development Committees (CDCs), state security outfits and some traditional rulers.

The rest were the Aare Ona Kakanfo, Otunba Gani Adams, leaders of both the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, traditional worshippers, lawmakers, state exco members, Agbekoya, security experts and civil society organisations- who all unanimously agreed there was no going back on the initiative.

Kick-starting the hearing, Speaker of Lagos state House of Assembly Mudashiru Obasa  said there was no going back on Amotekun in the South-west region.

He said notwithstanding the rows it generated from among Nigerians, the Amotekun bill would be accommodated in the state’s existing law.

He said: “Amotekun has come to stay and we must stand by it,” adding that the idea was enjoying the support of over 40 million Yoruba people, hence its acceptability.

The speaker further said: “Our race has spoken and we must stand by it but in line with the constitution.”

Also speaking, Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land Gani Adams allayed fears expressed in some quarters, particularly those outside the South-west region.

Adams said: “Yorubas are one of the most organised races and this public hearing for stakeholders to make inputs has justified my position.

Amotekun has brought the unity we have been talking about in Yorubaland. This  is the first time everybody in South-west is speaking with one voice. Those who are afraid have nothing to fear. Insecurity does not discriminate on tribe, religion or political party.”

A mild drama ensued when secretary of the Hausawa community in Alimosho, Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar, who spoke for both the community and MACBAN, advised people against making provocative comments on the initiative.

He was hardly done when voices of dissent rented the air. Nonetheless, he was able to make his case as the community leader said: “We don’t have anything against Amotekun, but we want to be carried along.”

And taking his turn, a member of the governor’s advisory committee, Cardinal James Odumbaku, urged all to ensure that everything was done to ensure the operational success of Amotekun.

While also expressing his party’s support for the idea, a PDP member who stood in for the state chairman of the party, Mr. Adedeji Doherty, called for transparent recruitment of the body’s personnel and ensure its merit-driven.

Also speaking, the Lagos state publicity secretary of the APC, Mr. Seye Oladejo, urged that less emphasis be placed on educational qualifications during the recruitment exercise.

Rather, he said proper knowledge of the locality and culture of the terrain should form a major basis for recruitment.

Reviewing the bill: ‘A law to amend the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency Law, 2019’, Majority Leader of the House Sanni Agunbiade provided further insight into the legislative document.

He said: “Amotekun corps would be depicted by the image of a leopard, an animal with the capacity to penetrate anywhere.

“The lawmaker said the outfit would perform same functions like the Neighbourhood Safety corps.”

On arms, the lawmaker said the personnel would carry licensed arms subject to the approval of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and collaborate with security agencies in Lagos and other states.

Describing the exercise as not novel, he said it was rather an amendment to the Neighbourhood Safety law that was in existence since 2016 to accommodate Amotekun corps.

He said, with the amendment, “Amotekun is to collaborate with and assist the police and other security network agencies in gathering information about crime, crime investigation, arrest and prosecution of persons suspected or involved in kidnapping, terrorism, cattle rustling, cultism, highway robbery and such other criminal activities.”

Ondo

And from Ondo, the state governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has restated the commitment of the South-west governors to the success of the new security arrangement.

At the public hearing which held in Akure, the state capital, Governor Akeredolu  said there’s  no going back on the project as it is geared towards  complementing  the already existing security apparatus in the states.

The governor said government cannot compromise security of lives and properties of the people that voted them into power hence shall do everything possible within the ambit of the law to protect the people.

He added that a collaborative effort of Amotekun with other existing security agencies would help eradicate  the incessant menace of insecurity pervading the states.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Speaker Ondo state House of Assembly Bamidele Oleyelogun appreciated the cooperation of all stakeholders in the state towards making sure the Amotekun security outfit sees the light of the day.

He however called on all stakeholders to make presentations that would aid the work of the proposed security initiative.

While presenting their memorandum, the state chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Adetona Aderoboye  commended the initiative, saying  “Operation Amotekun” is arguably the first regional security outfit initiated by a geo-political zone in Nigeria to confront the worrisome spate of banditry, terrorism, amied robbery, kidnapping, cultism, cattle rustling and the age-long farmers/herders clashes among other unwholesome and criminal activities ravaging the country over the years.” 

The union however drew the attention of the House to the need for the establishment of Information/Public Relations Department for the security outfit and therefore sought its inclusion in the proposed law.

He also said such unit should manned by a competent media personnel.

While other stakeholders like traditional rulers, students, artisans and various interest groups were on ground to make presentation of their memorandum.

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