The Southwest Regional Security Operation code-named Operation Amotekun has finally been adopted by governors of all states in the Southwest and the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The Southwest Governors’ Forum told the IGP Muhammed Adamu in Lagos on Thursday that, the development would spring up fresh efforts to secure local communities.
The forum spoke through its chairman and Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, at the Southwest Security Meeting on Community Policing convened at the instance of the IGP.
The meeting was held on Thursday at the Banquet Hall of the Lagos State Government in Alausa.
At the end of the meeting, which held for about two hours behind closed doors, the IGP and representatives of each state okayed the framework of Southwest Regional Security Network (otherwise known as Operation Amotekun), but initiative will not be run as a regional security operations, as initially suggested. It will be state-led effort, the IGP said.
Also, the meeting ratified community policing model proposed by the IGP and the initiative would be complementing Operation Amotekun and conventional police operations in all local communities.
The host and Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the security gathering was part of extensive meetings with the police leadership on adopting new strategies and initiatives towards securing lives and property of people in the Southwest.
Lagos Government, Sanwo-Olu said, will continue to champion initiatives and frameworks that continue to provide support and logistics required for effective policing in the region.
Akeredolu said the meeting was of “great importance” to the people of Southwest, confirming that the Forum had a fruitful discussion with the IGP.
Speaking on the outcome, Akeredolu said: “The Governors of Southwest and the IGP have held a very fruitful discussion and it is clear now to all of us that, community policing, which the Nigeria Police is anchoring is one that will benefit all of us. We have chosen that we will embrace community in its entirety.
“In addition, we have spoken and we want everyone to know that, Amotekun was not conceived as a regional police, but a state-based security outfit. We have come out of this meeting happy and we have agreed on the resolution. We have shed lights on dark areas and we are on the same page with the police with respect to these issues.”
IGP Adamu said the police would be part of the recruitment, training and deployment of personnel to be assigned for Amotekun operations, adding that the initiative would work in complementary with community policing model.
He said the police would support the residents’ effort to keep their communities safe, but added that any decision to be taken must come from the public.
The IGP praised Lagos Government for adopting a community-led policing arrangement, saying Lagos remained an example where “a good structure” of community policing had been effective.
