The Board Chairman, Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun in Osun state, AIG Wale Abass (Rtd.) has said that the security outfit is not for any political party.
Speaking to newsmen on Thursday at the ongoing training exercise for new recruits into the agency at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Ede, Osun state, Abass maintained that recruitment was thrown open to the public, advertised, publicised, and thereafter, interview was done before the training started.
The former Police Boss, commends Governor Adeleke for allowing a transparent process adding that the new recruits were strategically selected from all local governments within the state to ensure a process that will strengthens local security architecture in the state.
He said “We have the criteria for the recruitment, someone who’s not up to 18 years or is more than 40 years old should not apply, while the minimum education is O-level with this information spread across the state and local government.
“We are apolitical, we don’t belong to any political parties, and the recruitment was thrown open to the public and that was the reason why when we started the recruitment we advertised, publicised, then interviewed them and after that, we put them on notice that you must show enthusiasm, you must have the physical appearance, you must have the physique, strength and necessary qualifications.
“The training is also very rigorous. Those who can endure will stay. We subject them to conditions that will make them fit for their profession. The training will last for 3 weeks, and we have 1150 candidates to be trained during that duration.”
Also speaking to newsmen, Corps Commandant, Amotekun, Dr Adekunle Omoyele stated that the recruitment of the over 1000 personnel was important because the number of Amotekun corps in the state was just 300, which was too small for the state.
He also disclosed that there is a toll-free number for members of the state to call in case of any emergency.
“We deem it fit because the strength we met is a pitiable strength that can not go along with what we are talking about. That is why we informed His Excellency, and he graciously approved the recruitment. We are recruiting an over 1000 to join the 300 personnel that are on the ground.
“Excellency has promised that after this, we still need to scale up in bid to continue to meet up with the standard we need in Osun. The recruits are coping very well. And I know we will perform well in the state. Everybody will sleep with their two eyes close in Osun, I promise.
“Before I came on board, I noticed a lot of lapses in terms of communication, in terms of responding to people, we now have a toll-free number we will give out to people, that they can call when there’s distress.” He noted.
He stated further that there’s a synergy and working relationship between Amotekun and other sisters’ security agencies in the state.
Speaking on the concentration and focus of the training, one of the instructors, AIG Fimihan Adeoye (Rtd.) said the training is focused on building capacity of the newly recruited Amotekun corps to ensuring effective participation in law enforcement and in accordance with the law.
He said, “Our emphasis is on building the capacity of the newly recruited Amotekun corps to ensure their effective participation in law enforcement and also to ensure they act in accordance with the law.
“I’m happy to be here on the invitation of the State Government, the training is scheduled to last for 3 weeks and we started our schedule on 10th of March and I can say the training is progressing well.
“Our emphasis is on them being equipped with knowledge, to further contribute to the security architecture that has been in place in the state. We are emphasizing the need for collaboration between them and all the security agencies that are in the state.
“And have also from the on set being able to let them know that they are going to be seriously involved in the protection of the human rights of the people, and if they are going to be involved in the human rights of the people it means they must ensure they do not in any way violate the right of the people that they had been employed, empowered and paid to protect.”
Some of the recruits who spoke with our correspondent commended the state government and their instructors for the training.
Ajibade Ayodeji Zechariah from Odo Otin Local Government said, “We need to commend the government for doing a great job. With the situation in our country, we all know the security challenges we have. If there’s adequate security, there won’t be food scarcity.
“The training we are going through is a normal rigidness of para-military training, because we need to be fit, both mind and soul. We wake up by 5am starting the morning exercise, the lecture, and all as planned out in the schedule. We believe that by the time we leave here, we will make a huge impact in society,” he noted.
Fatoke Janet from Obokun LG stated that “the training has been very lively, there’s no time to play nor to waste, and the trainers have been doing a great job.”
