Allow Amotekun carry sophisticated weapons, Akeredolu urges FG

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has urged the Federal Government to allow the officers of the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun Corps to bear arms to protect the people of the state.

The Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde to the Governor on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, said the Federal Government should allow Amotekun operatives to carry sophisticated weapons.

In the Governor’s statement, He said the Federal Government awarded pipeline surveillance contracts to individuals and they are allowed to carry weapons , Amotekun should also be allowed to bear arms.

Akeredolu explained that the oil facilities that are being defended with arms are not more essential than the lives of the citizens.

“Most of the people and even some of my colleagues didn’t really understand my position on the oil pipeline surveillance contract. I have no issue with the Federal Government awarding surveillance contracts to anybody.

It is Federal Government’s money. They can use it anyhow they want.,” Governor Akerodolu said, according to a statement released on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde.

we are spending our funds on Amotekun. And what I said in my statement titled, ‘Who Actually Needs Weapon’ was that the Federal Government should allow Amotekun to carry sophisticated weapons like those whom they awarded pipeline surveillance contracts.”

“If you can allow individuals to carry heavy arms to protect pipelines, why won’t you allow Amotekun to carry sophisticated weapons to protect the people?

The governor had earlier condemned the decision of the Federal Government to award a contract for the protection of pipelines in the South-South.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, the contract was awarded to a private security company.

Kyari also revealed that a former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has an interest in the company awarded the pipeline protection contract