Questions, reaction over reported death of 200 Amotekun operatives

Oyo APC demands clarification over reported death of 200 Amotekun operatives

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has described as “saddening, alarming and unacceptable” the reported death of more than 200 operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun Corps, in undisclosed circumstances.

The party called on Governor Seyi Makinde to provide full details surrounding the revelation and ensure adequate protection for security personnel and residents across the state.

Governor Makinde had on Saturday, May 30, during a sympathy visit to Oriire Local Government Area, disclosed that over 200 Amotekun operatives had lost their lives in active service, without giving further explanation of the circumstances leading to their deaths. The visit followed an attack on Friday, May 15, in which suspected bandits killed two people and abducted over 40 schoolchildren and teachers.

Reacting on Thursday, the Oyo APC, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, in Ibadan, expressed shock at what it described as the governor’s “flippancy” in handling such a sensitive disclosure.

“With this ugly development, there is no denying the fact that the current administration in Oyo does not attach much importance to the lives of the people,” the party said.

“How can a governor mention the death of over 200 dedicated crime fighters flippantly and without any recourse to the feelings of their family members and loved ones? Why did the governor withhold information on the high casualty figures of the slain Amotekun Corps?” it queried.

The APC argued that the reported fatalities raised concerns about the level of insecurity in the state, suggesting that crime may have reached an alarming peak.

“For Oyo to have recorded such a high number of fatalities among its security team, it indicates that crime rates in the state have reached the crescendo while the state government covers up a whole lot of things,” the statement added.

The party also raised questions about the welfare, training, and operational structure of the Amotekun Corps, urging reforms and improved coordination with federal security agencies.

“The revelation by the governor also raises a lot of questions regarding the condition of service in the Amotekun Corps Service,” it said.

“From our own discreet investigations, we found that Makinde has failed to work a synergy between the corps and the federal security agencies on account of needless ego and cluelessness,” the APC added.

It further urged the state government to strengthen security coordination and prioritize professional standards within the corps.

“The practice whereby Amotekun Corps members are being deployed to man hotels, properties and business facilities belonging to friends and political associates of the governor should be stopped, while only competent hands should be recruited, even as training, retraining and good welfare packages must be put in place for the officials for them to operate under minimum risk and high motivation,” the party stated.