A former Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force, Sunday Ehindero, has said operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Network, otherwise known as Amotekun, are not allowed to carry arms under any guise.
Ehindero said this in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital on Monday where he was the anchor of a sensitisation awareness campaign on community policing.
The former police boss emphasised that the Amotekun corps is just like a vigilante group and as such, has no powers to carry arms.
According to him, the Western security outfit should key into community policing and join the police in intelligence gathering.
“I appreciate the work of Amotekun, it is desirable. But for now, I can’t say of the future, Amotekun operatives are not allowed by law to carry arms. They should work with or key into community policing and give their information to the police.
“Amotekun operatives are just like the vigilante groups. They are not to carry arms. They are to cooperate with the police in intelligence gathering,” Ehindero stated.
On the newly established Special Constabulary Police, the retired IGP said the officers will not be remunerated.
He described the unit as a voluntary service, where it is presumed that the officers have jobs of their own, saying it is a voluntary and an auxiliary security outfit.
However, Ehindero said he would speak to the higher authorities to consider paying the special constables stipends in future.
Speaking, Governor Dapo Abiodun, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Shuaib Salisu, reiterated the commitment of his administration to ensure a safer Ogun by giving the necessary support to the police and other security agents.
The Governor appreciated the police for coming up with the idea of community policing, saying the recent End SARS protest has proven that there must be cooperation and synergy between the people and the police.
DAILY POST reports that the event, which was held at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, had in attendance, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun; Assistant Inspector General in charge of Zone 2, AIG Hamed Iliyasu; the Deputy Inspector General in charge of the South West, DIG Leye Oyebade, traditional rulers and members of the state Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC).
