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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has approved the recruitment of additional 500 personnel into the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun.
The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday.
According to the statement, Makinde gave the approval during the monthly security meeting with chairmen of local governments, heads of security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the state.
The governor said recruiting new personnel would enhance Amotekun’s performance and further deepen the security architecture of the state.
He said the meeting, held at the House of Parliament within the premises of the State House of Assembly, was part of his administration’s efforts to enhance security of lives and property in the state.
Makinde added that the meeting was to get the situation report from various quarters on security as well as to dialogue on what to do as stakeholders and finetune necessary steps.
He said the outcome would help the government to put necessary machinery in place for a safer environment,emphasising that security issue was a collective responsibility.
“Therefore, all hands must be on deck in order to curtail insecurity facing the country, in which Oyo State was not exempted.
“Security is everyone’s business and if we all play our parts well, we will have a safer and more secured environment.
“Though the security of lives and property is a paramount responsibility of the government, the government cannot do it alone except with cooperation of the entire citizenry,” the governor added.
Makinde used the occasion to appreciate the security agencies in the state for their unrelenting support towards making peaceful coexistence among the people of the state possible.
He urged them to keep up the pace in order to allow for more influx of investments and commercial growth.
In his remarks, a former governor of the state, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja, commended Makinde for being proactive in the area of security which has greatly helped the state.
Ladoja urged all stakeholders and members of the public to be vigilant and ensure safety of their lives.