Following the outbreak and continuous spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, the takeoff of the Western Nigeria Security Network also known as Operation Amotekun may suffer delay as a result of the ban on the gathering of more than 50 persons announced by the Lagos State Government and other states in the Southwest region. READ ALSO: Here Is What God Reportedly Told Pastor Adeboye About Coronavirus
The takeoff of the security outfit might be postponed because of the emergency situation posed by the deadly virus, according to sources from the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria and some state governors.
The chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum and Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, had recently said the security outfit would take off in April but the outbreak of the virus might force the governors to shift the commencement date.
In 2019, the chairman and other five governors in the region had decided to establish a security outfit to complement the efforts of the Federal Government-owned security agencies to tackle insecurity in the area.
This was consequent to reports that herdsmen and other criminals had taken over the region as they killed, kidnapped and destroyed properties of indigenes and residents of states in the region last year.
The killing of the Funke, the 56 years old daughter of Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, by suspected herdsmen, was regarded as the climax of the killings.
According to the sources, the states had started recruiting prospective corps for the security outfit but the training and takeoff of the project would be delayed due to the outbreak of coronavirus in the country.
Speaking about the delay of the exercise, one of the sources said: “The states have started recruiting personnel into the security outfit except Oyo State which is yet to start. Oyo State has not started recruitment and anybody who complains that they were not recruited is not saying the truth.”
The delay is, however, necessary as the federal government is taking every possible step to arrest the spread of the virus.
