Governor of Osun State in southwest Nigeria, Ademola Adeleke, has charged the new recruits into the State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps) on patriotism and improved service.
Adeleke gave the charge on Friday at the Passing Out Parade (POP) of over one thousand new Amotekun cadets in Ede, Osun State.
The Governor urged the cadets to show patriotic commitment to their calling, adding that, as crime fighters, they were duty bound to shun corruption and other unpatriotic acts.
Adeleke, who emphasized the need to continue to maintain peace and security in the state, urged the cadets to give their best in discharging their duty.
He said the determination of his government to secure lives and property of residents culminated in the recruitment of more personnel into the corps.
“It is my pleasure to address this fresh crop of Amotekun trainees. Today is a landmark event as our reform of the Amotekun service is yielding desired fruits.
“I, however, want to charge the new trainees to demonstrate patriotic commitment to the service. You must be a dedicated anti-crime fighter. You must avoid corruption and other conducts that violate the law. You are expected to be a good ambassador of the service in your daily operation.
“In line with our administration’s commitment to the security of lives and properties, I assure the leadership and the rank and file of the service that our administration is focussed on full execution of the upgrade agenda. We will provide you with the required tools to work”, the Governor assured residents.
Governor Adeleke also stated that the Osun State Security Network Agency is backed by law, stressing that amendments to the old law was meant to transform the corps and integrate it into the broader security architecture of the state.
He said: “I am also glad to note that the service now has a sound legal framework. The amended law has removed loopholes in the previous enactment. Under the new legal structure, the service has a full range of opportunities to be a rewarding member of the security architecture.
“As part of legal reforms, the service is also to be considered as a beneficiary in the planned security trust fund. Once the trust fund takes off, Amotekun service will also be enabled to access logistic support, among others.”
The Board Chairman of the Corps, AIG Wale Abass (Rtd), in his remarks, lauded Governor Adeleke for approving the recruitment of the new cadets and for his commitment to maintaining peace and security in the state.
He explained that the new cadets had undergone trainings under experts from Nigerian Police Force, the Army, the Air Force, as well as the Department of State Services (DSS), and were ready for deployment.
Abass said the recruits underwent rigorous drills in unarmed combat, intelligence gathering, crime prevention techniques, weapon handling, communication, field tactics, and the fundamentals of community policing among others.
He said: “Special emphasis was placed on the principles of proportionality, legality, accountability, and necessity (PLAN) to ensure adherence to best law enforcement practices.
“The principles which are universal and applied indiscriminatorily to all law enforcement activities are meant to ensure best practice and prevent law enforcement agents from violating the rights of the people they are employed, statutorily empowered, and paid to protect.
“The principles are also to ensure that officers and men of all law enforcement agencies deploy force in strict compliance with the “procedures for the use of force” in order not to be found culpable of unjustified use of force.
The Board Chairman then urged the cadets to be courageous, disciplined and unwavering in their commitment to serve the people of the state.
A total of one thousand, one hundred and fifty cadets completed their training and participated in the Passing Out Parade.
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