Concerned citizens and stakeholders in Ekiti State have appealed to Governor Biodun Oyebanji to equip the State’s Security Network, known as Amotekun, with modern technological facilities that will enhance their operations.
Those who spoke with Journalists in Ado Ekiti including a Legal Practitioner, Oluwalana Adekola, a Cleric, Pastor Sola Aladeloba and a retired Principal, Elder Segun Durojaye affirmed that though the corps had improved in it’s operations, much more still needed to be done to enable the corps meet up with desired expectations.
According to the respondents, to arrest any kidnapper or armed robber in this age requires more than traditional mechanism, saying officers of the corps must have access to good guns, communication gadgets, operational vehicles, motorbikes as well as drones.
They affirmed that such operational vehicles and motorcycles should be procured in large number and distributed across all councils and LCDAs.
The respondents said government of Ekiti State must learn from Ondo and Oyo States where the corps are well supported with the necessary facilities.
In an interview with one of the officers of the corps, who does not want his name to be mentioned confirmed that the corps does not have operational vehicle in some councils.
He said the various arrests made were out of personal sacrifices of officers and commitment.
“How do you access a forest or Kidnappers den when you don’t have motorcycles, besides we don’t have access to good guns that can be used to face this miscreants.
“If an officer is in the bush for instance, he can only be reached through phone and in the case of no network, he is on his own, but with some modern day gadgets, you can track and locate any criminal and communicate with officers on the field easily. We are left to face criminals with our bare chest and this is not the best.”
Another officer told Journalists that their take home is also poor considering the current economic reality.
“Some of us still earn as low as twenty thousand, what can that do for you? We need to be motivated so as to also give our best.”