Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has approved the recruitment of additional 700 corps for South West Security Network codenamed Amotekun to address the challenges facing the outfit in combating spate of kidnapping in the state.
This was made known by the Amotekun Corps Commandant, Retired Brig. -Gen. Bashir Adewinmbi, while speaking with newsmen, noting that there were two major challenges facing the outfit, but Governor Ademola Adeleke had intervened to solve one of them.
Reports revealed that in the past few months, kidnapping cases had been on the increase, even within Osogbo, the capital, which had caused fear among the residents.
Among the challenges are inadequate corps and inability of the corps to bear arms.
Adewinmbi said, “The people venturing into kidnapping should not blame it on economic hardships, they are criminally- minded. Even sometimes, security operatives connive with kidnappers to carry out abduction for ransom. Osun State governor is doing wonderfully well in funding Amotekun, it is not easy.
“Governor Adeleke has promised to do more for us, to strengthen us to be able to combat insecurity, especially kidnapping. We have mapped out our strategies, we have carried out a lot of reforms in Amotekun to ensure everyone of us knows what to do at the right time without any ulterior motive.
“Last week, we administered oath for all the corps so that they can sit tight at Ataoja High School field, to strengthen their commitment. Whoever does anything bad will definitely be exposed, no doubt about that. We are ready to combat crime.
“Part of the challenges we are facing is bearing of arms by the outfit. There’s need for Amotekun to be fully armed, to protect our states. Most of the kidnappers are using sophisticated weapons. It is a challenge. We have the challenges of shortage of corps because we kick started the outfit with 300 corps, but the governor has given tentative approval to recruit additional 700 corps for Amotekun. We have been given directive.”
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Samuel Ojo, said that efforts were ongoing to tackle the security challenges facing the state.
