Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde has said that the Western Nigeria Security Network popularly known as Operation Amotekun will never be ceded to the Federal Government as the state intends to retain full control over the community policing outfit.
Mr Makinde said this during a meeting with caretaker chairmen and chairpersons across the 33 Local Government Areas and thirty-five Local Council Development Areas of the state.
Mr Makinde also instructed the council chiefs to inaugurate security committees to battle the rising tide of insecurity in the state.
Senior government officials and politicians attended the meeting which started around 6:15 pm and lasted for about ninety minutes.
Mr Makinde said: “From where we are here, the biggest challenge that we have seen so far is in the area of security. Even here in Ibadan, two days ago, a gentleman lost his life very close by here. He went to the bank and they trailed him and for a small amount of money, he got killed.
“Yes, we are entering the ember months in a few days now and it is always the season when people who haven’t worked through the year but would want to have a Merry Christmas so we expect that we see a spike in criminals activities.
“At Okeho the other day, armed robbers went and rob a bank but thankfully the community rose to the occasion and they assisted to apprehend those people and they combed the forest and that is why I will continue to say and I am saying it for the whole world to hear that Amotekun is here to stay with us and it will not be under the control of the Federal establishment. It will be under our control.
“The security of our people is extremely important and nothing can take place as far as we are concern in an atmosphere of insecurity and Oyo state is a very large area.”
The Buhari Administration recently announced a take-off grant of 13 billion naira for its nationwide community policing project, leading to widespread fears among residents of states in the south-west that the federal government was planning to take over the Amotekun policing initiative.