By Emmanuel Adeoye
Some stakeholders who are concerned about Security issues has charged the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji to acquire sophisticated security gadgets for the Amotekun Security Network in Ekiti State to enable them end crime activities in the State.
Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti on Monday, the stakeholders who has interest in the security affairs of the people of the State, a Legal Practitioner, Barrister Oluwalana Adekola; a Cleric, Pastor Sola Aladeloba and a retired Principal, Elder Segun Durojaiye affirmed that though the corps had improved in it’s operations, much more still needed to be done to enable the corps meet up with the desired expectations of the people.
The stakeholders while speaking further, stated that, to arrest any kidnapper or armed robber in this age requires more than traditional mechanism saying officers of the corps must have access to sophisticated weapons, communication gadgets, operational vehicles, motorbikes as well as drones.
They unanimously spoke that such operational vehicles and motorcycles should be procured in large numbers and distributed across all the local government Councils and the LCDAs in the State.
Continuing, the stakeholders said that the government of Ekiti State must learn from Ondo and Oyo States where the corps are well supported with the necessary facilities.
Also, in an interview with one of the officers of the corps, who does not want his name to be mentioned, he confirmed that the corps does not have operational vehicle in some councils.
He said the various arrests made were out of personal sacrifices of officers and commitment.
“How do you access a forest or Kidnappers den when you don’t have motorcycles, besides. We don’t have access to good guns that can be used to face this miscreants”, the stakeholders declare.
“If an officer is in the bush for instance, he can only be reached through phone and in the case of no network, he is on his own, but with some modern day gadgets, you can track and locate any criminal and communicate with officers on the field easily. We are left to face criminals with our bear chest and this is not the best.”
Another officer told Journalists that their take home is also poor considering the current economic reality.
“Some of us still earn as low as twenty thousand, what can that do for you, we need to be motivated so as to also give our best.”