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Tag: amotekun

  • Amotekun dismisses killer official, hands him to police for prosecution

    Amotekun dismisses killer official, hands him to police for prosecution

    The Oyo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun has dismissed one of its member, Kazeem Afolabi, who allegedly fired the shot that killed a commercial motorcyclist, Tosin Thomas in Ibadan on Wednesday.

    The Commandant of Amotekun, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (retd.), in a statement on Thursday by the media officer of the agency, Mrs Ayolola Adedoja, said Afolabi acted outside the guideline of the security outfit and had been dismissed and handed over to the police for prosecution.

    The commandant said the agency regretted the loss of Thomas’s life, saying the leadership was already in touch with the family.

    Explaining how the incident happened, then commandant said the team leader around Mokola received a call that there was an armed robbery at Mokola and seven members of the agency proceeded to the place.

    He stated that on getting there, the leader of the Amotekun observed that although crowd had gathered, there was no threat to anybody’s life there and he went to the manager of the filling station there.

    “On arrival at the scene of the alleged crime, it turned out that it was not an armed robbery operation, though a crowd had gathered.

    “The team leader, sensing no immediate danger to anyone at the scene immediately proceeded to speak with the station manager. While he was with the manager, he heard a gunshot.

    “As it turned out, one of his team members, by the name Afolabi Kazeem, who felt sufficiently threatened by the crowd, which included some hoodlums armed with cutlasses and other weapons, opened fire to supposedly scare away the crowd. Unfortunately, his shot hit one Mr Tosin Thomas, 23, who was subsequently confirmed dead.

    “The corps has found that Afolabi Kazeem with ammunition number AM031849 acted outside the Amotekun Corps’ protocols.

    “For this reason, he has been summarily dismissed from the corps and handed over to the police for prosecution. Also, his team leader, George Idowu, is being thoroughly investigated and will face all necessary sanctions.”

  • Amotekun shoots okada rider dead in Ibadan

    Amotekun shoots okada rider dead in Ibadan

    A stray bullet from an officer of the Oyo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corps, has killed a commercial motorcycle rider (Okada) in Ibadan.

    The incident occurred on Wednesday.

    It was gathered that operatives of the security outfit were on patrol around Mokola area of Ibadan at 11p.m. when a gun shot was heard allegedly hitting the motorcyclist, identified as Tosin Thomas.

    A witness to the incident told that Thomas, 21, was rushed to hospital for treatment, but later died in the early hours of Thursday.

    The witness said that the deceased was not on his bike, but was walking in the area when he was hit by stray bullet.

    There was a protest around Mokola roundabout area of Ibadan on Thursday morning by motorcycle operators.

    The protesters who carried the corpse of the deceased around Mokola area, later dumped the corpse in the middle of the road.

    This caused serious traffic gridlock around Mokola roundabout while shops owners hurriedly closed their shops for safety.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, CSP Olugbenga Fadeyi, confirmed the incident.

    Fadeyi said that a report was received on Thursday by 9:10am from one Alamu Timothy at the Mokola Police station that 21-year-old Tosin Thomas of Ode-Olo area, Ibadan, was hit by bullet fired by Amotekun operatives around Mokola Total filing station at about 11:30 pm.

    Fadeyi said that the victim was rushed to University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, for immediate medical attention, but was later confirmed dead.

    The PPRO said that investigation had commenced into the matter and normalcy had been restored to the area.

  • OPC warns Miyetti Allah to desist from plot to infiltrate Amotekun

    OPC warns Miyetti Allah to desist from plot to infiltrate Amotekun

    Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) has warned the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to desist from “plot” to infiltrate the Southwest Security Network (Amotekun).

    The Yoruba organisation gave the warning in reaction to MACBAN’s call for the inclusion of its members and other ethnic bodies in the outfit.

    OPC said the demand was a ploy to weaken the Amotekun and put the region in “perpetual security threat”.

    The group’s Publicity Secretary, Yinka Oguntimehin, in a statement on Tuesday, advised MACBAN to drop the idea.

    “OPC will never allow Miyetti Allah to set our region on fire. We cannot afford to see the South-West facing the kind of security challenges faced daily in the North-East and North-West.

    “Our group will never fold its arms and allow overrun by herdsmen and marauders. That is why we are warning leaders of the group to desist from their sinister motives and leave Amotekun alone in the region.”

    Oguntimehin lambasted the leader of herders in Oyo State, Ibrahim Jiji for making the “unrealistic request”, maintaining that MACBAN lacked credibility.

    The spokesman urged the Federal Government to beam a searchlight on Jiji, noting that no Yoruba group ever demanded to be included into Northern formations like Hisbah, Middle Belt security outfit, among others.

    He vowed that OPC will resist any attempt to soil the name of Amotekun.

  • 3 Killed, 2 injured as Amotekun operatives, herdsmen clash

    3 Killed, 2 injured as Amotekun operatives, herdsmen clash

    No fewer than three persons were reported murdered and two others injured on Saturday during a clash between the Oyo State Amotekun operatives and some Fulani herdsmen.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that Amotekun operatives and herdsmen engaged in a clash at Aiyete in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of the state.

    The clash was said to have started at Okebi village on Saturday morning but the cause of the clash could not be immediately ascertained immediately.

    The Police Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, CSP Olugbenga Fadeyi, confirmed the incident on Saturday in a text message sent to NAN in Ibadan.

    Fadeyi said that three persons lost their lives while two others were injured.

    “When the DPO of Ayete got wind of the incident, he moved in swiftly to ascertain the cause of the attack.

    “In his report, three persons has died and two injured. He has since commenced investigation and further development will unfold shortly,” the police spokesman said.

  • Seven feared dead as Amotekun, herdsmen battle in Oyo

    Seven feared dead as Amotekun, herdsmen battle in Oyo

    Men of the Oyo State Security Network Agency popularly known as Operation Amotekun and some Fulani have allegedly engaged in a clash at Aiyete in the Ibarapa North Local Government Area of the state.

    The brawl was said to have started at Okebi village on Saturday morning but the cause of the clash could not be directly ascertained as of the time of filing this report.

    A man, Saliu, who claimed to be a resident of the area seven persons had been killed.

    Saliu said, “Alhaji Usman Okebi and his two sons were killed. We don’t know what caused the fight. Some persons were shot and injured.

    “The number of people killed has increased to seven. Those who were shot and ran away later died in the bush”, he told Punch..

    The Commandant of Amotekun in Oyo State, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (retd), when contacted said he was on his way to the place to ascertain what happened.

    He said, “I heard the same thing and I am on my way there now.”

     

  • Amotekun must not become another SARS in Nigeria- Soyinka

    Amotekun must not become another SARS in Nigeria- Soyinka

    Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has said the South-West Security Network Agency code named Amotekun, must not become the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force.

    The Nobel Laureate emphasised the importance of ethical training so that the defunct notorious police unit does not resurfaced in Amotekun.

    Recall that Ondo and Oyo States have launched the security outfit endorsed by the governments of the six South-West states last year.

    However, of late, there have been allegations of recklessness and extrajudicial killings against the security outfit, especially in Oyo State.

    Speaking on Saturday, Soyinka said the minds of the Amotekun operatives must be trained to understand the essence of their job.

    The Nobel Laureate spoke while featuring on a monitored Arise TV programme on Saturday.

    He said, “I have told them anytime you want us to come and assist, we will come even if it is just on the ethical session so that as you are training them to defend us, we are also training their minds so that Amotekun does not become another SARS, very important. We must do everything together.”

    Soyinka, who said some South-West states were tardy in inaugurating their Amotekun Corps, urged other states yet to launch their security outfits to do so quickly as the challenge of insecurity has reached a “stage of desperation”.

  • Makinde to sanction erring personnel of Amotekun corps

    Makinde to sanction erring personnel of Amotekun corps

    Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State says his government is already investigating the reports of alleged highhandedness of some personnel of the Western Nigeria Security Network; code-named ‘Amotekun’.

    This is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Ibadan by Mankinde’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Taiwo Adisa.

    The statement said that Makinde’s reaction on his Twitter handle followed the recent face-off between some personnel of the Amotekun corps and some youths in Tapa town, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of the state.

    The governor stated that the matter would be addressed squarely in the interest of the security and wellbeing of residents of the state.

    He maintained that his administration was doing everything it could to address security challenges in the state.

    Makinde said that Amotekun was introduced to check insecurity in the state and that his administration would not sit back and watch any harassment or intimidation of any member of the public or any security agent.

    “Following the recent events in Tapa, Ibarapa North local government area, it becomes imperative that I once again reassure the good people of Oyo state that our administration is doing everything in its power to address security issues in our state.

    “One of the strategies we are using to check insecurity in the state is the recently introduced Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun).

    ” I am fully aware of the alleged highhandedness by some members of the corps. We are investigating these issues to address them promptly.

    “The welfare and security of the good people of Oyo state remain our top priority.

    “We will not sit back and watch any harassment or intimidation of members of the public or our security officers.

    “Therefore, I urge the good people of Oyo state to please remain calm and allow members of the corps to perform their legally authorised duties for our peoples’ well-being.

    “Let me assure you that if any corps members is abusing their office, they will be dealt with accordingly,” Makinde stated.

  • Oyo Amotekun reacts to member’s shooting of police officer

    Oyo Amotekun reacts to member’s shooting of police officer

    The Oyo State Security Network Agency known as Amotekun has said its officer, Ibrahim Ogundele, did not intentionally shoot a police constabulary, Fatai Yekini.

    The Commandant of the Amotekun corps in Oyo State, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (retd.), said this in a statement issued in Ibadan on Monday by the media officer of the security outfit, Mrs Ayolola Adedoja.

    Olayanju said Amotekun corps was invited by the police to join them in dismantling a carnival stage, which the police had warned against.

    He said in the process, the Amotekun officer’s gun accidentally discharged itself and the bullet hit the policeman in the thigh.

    He said, “Amotekun operatives were invited by the police to join hands with them to dismantle a carnival stage. The carnival was held against the earlier warnings to the organisers by the police.

    “The carnival stage was dismantled unchallenged. But after this, the gun with Ogundele Ibrahim discharged accidentally and hit the community police officer on the thigh. Yekini Fatai was rushed to the General Hospital in Oyo town where he was treated and has been discharged.”

    I want to state categorically here that there was no feud of any kind between Ogundele Ibrahim and Yekini Fatai to warrant shooting him.”

  • Amotekun operative shoots policeman in Oyo

    Amotekun operative shoots policeman in Oyo

    An operative of the Oyo State Security Network Agency, otherwise known as Amotekun, has shot a police officer, Fatai Yekini, in Oyo town.

    The Amotekun officer, identified as Ibrahim Ogundele, was said to have opened fire on one of the policemen immediately they arrived at a carnival.

    The incident was said to have happened around 3 pm on Saturday around Sanga area of Oyo town.

    It was gathered that the operative was promptly arrested and has been put in police custody while the injured cop is said to be receiving treatment in hospital.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Olugbenga Fadeyi, confirmed the incident when contacted by Punch.

    He said, “This happened when police personnel at Ojongbodu Division, Oyo were responding to calls to dislodge recalcitrant youths staging carnival after several warnings that such should not be staged.

    “The Amotekun personnel has since been arrested and currently being investigated at Ojongbodu Police station.”

  • Amotekun debunks report of killing of U.I student

    Amotekun debunks report of killing of U.I student

    Retired Col. Olayinka Olayanju, the Commandant of the Southwest Security Network in Oyo State, otherwise known as Amotekun, has debunked a report that its operatives killed a student of the University of Ibadan last Sunday.

    Olayanju said in a statement issue in Ibadan on Saturday that men of the Amotekun Corps had an encounter with a three-man robbery gang, neutralised its leader and handed the two surviving members to the Atiba Police Station in Oyo town.

    “On Sunday, Dec 20, a mobile patrol team of Amotekun operatives from Oyo East and Atiba Local Government Areas ran into an illegal road block mounted around Sabo area in Oyo town at about 4 a.m.

    “While the team was attempting to clear the barricade to facilitate smooth passage for interstate commercial vehicles plying the road, a group of armed men suspected to be robbers fired at the Amotekun operatives and a gun duel ensued.

    “In the process, one of the robbers, nicknamed Akin Sarz, was neutralised and two other gang members were arrested at the scene with a locally made pistol and cartridges

    “Men of Nigerian Police from Atiba were called to the scene where Amotekun operatives handed over the two arrested suspected armed robbers along with the corpse of Akin Sarz to them.

    “The police later handed over the surviving gang members to the State CID Iyangaku, Ibadan, for further investigation#,’’ he stated.

    The commandant implored people who desired to get further details on the incident to visit Akinmorin Community in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State or inquire from the Police.

    “Amotekun operatives will do all within their legal responsibility to protect lives and property without prejudice to any sentiment,’’ Olayanju stressed.