Allow Amotekun to bear sophisticated weapons – Ondo lawmaker begs FG

The lawmaker representing Odigbo Constituency 1 in the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olatunji Ifabiyi, has urged the Federal Government to allow Amotekun Corps officials to bear sophisticated weapons to fight insecurity.

Ifabiyi, in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday, said that Amotekun would not be effective if left with the usage of outdated arms and ammunition such as Dane guns and pump action.

The lawmaker noted that members of the Corps had absolute knowledge of all the terrain within the state but needed to be equipped with modern security gadgets to fight insecurity.

According to him, if the Federal Government permits Amotekun to operate with sophisticated weapons, insecurity, especially across the South-West, will be reduced to the barest minimum.

Ifabiyi, who is the Chairman of the Assembly’s Committee on Security Matters, said the legislative body had not relented in its efforts to guarantee safety of lives and property in the state.

“Our efforts in supporting the fight against criminality in the state, is not limited to Amotekun, but cutting across all security agencies.

“We have met with heads of security agencies in the state and we have shown our readiness to assist them in whatever capacity within our constitutional power. On Amotekun, there was no bill in strengthening the Corps that was not given speedy passage.

“We’re pleading with the Federal Government to allow them to bear sophisticated weapons in carrying out their duties. They cannot continue to bear old weapons while fighting enemies with lethal weapons and AK-47; we should not deceive ourselves,” he said.

He commended the Federal Government for the initiative of Forest Guards, saying that such a move when implemented fully would flush out criminals from the forest reserves across the states.