Former Chief of Defense Staff, Lt. General Alani Akinrinade, a retired military Officer, has advocated that the southwest Nigerian security outfit known as Amotekun, should be transformed into the state Police.
Akinrinade made the remarks over the weekend at his country home in Yakoyo, Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State while receiving the Special Adviser to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye who led team of Osun State Ministry of Information in charge of Civic Engagement.
He explained that efforts to secure the nation should be community driven rather than using a centralized structure.
He also advised that all regional security outfits should metamorphose into state police for effective delivery in the security system of the nation.
In his statement, he said that, “Policing system in every country is naturally meant to be driven through community structures for excellent and effective intelligence gathering which is the onus of security system.”
“Central government should not exclusively control security institutions as other components, especially in a federation should be inclusive because of the essence of proximity in the policing system.”
“The centralization of security system by the federal government which brings about the enlistment of non indigenous personnel into the policing structure of a state as against the use of indigenous individuals like the case of foreign countries, has rendered Nigeria’s policing system ineffective and unproductive.”
The retired General also commended the leadership of Oyetola, who he described as a visionary leader, who together with other leaders of southwest states, created the security outfit.
