Following the illegal entry and wandering of the Fulani herdsmen of Benin-Republic, Burkina Faso and Mali extractions, who usually enter Nigeria through illegal routes that dot Ilara, Iwoye-Ketu corridors of Imeko-Afon local government area of Ogun state, Ogun state government is now finalising plans to launch resident identification cards and inaugurate Amotekun Corps.
The moves, according to investigations conducted by the BusinessDaySUNDAY in some security flash points in the state show that the plans became imperative going by the increasing level of insecurity in the state, especially at the international border areas like Ilara, Iwoye-Ketu, Idi-Iroko, among others, as the state government is poised to fight insecurity frontally.
Fulani herdsmen of Benin Republic, Togo, Burkina Faso and Mali extractions had taken over some parts of Imeko-Afon local government areas in the state with thousands of their cattle wandering and grazing freely on the highly labour-intensive crop plantations and farmlands belonging to commercial and peasant farmers.
Investigations conducted so far show that Fulani herdsmen and their cattle do not only destroy farmlands but commit varied degrees of crimes, including theft, armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, cattle rustling, among other crimes, as commercial and practical farmlands owned by the O’dua Investment Company Limited and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), respectively, are being threatened by the criminal activities of marauders on the axis.
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Apart from commercial and practical farms of O’dua Investment Company Limited and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, State government-owned forest reserves in that axis and some villages such as Janata, Idufe, among others, have been overran by the wandering Fulani herdsmen and it is dangerous for anybody to go with effective security.
Consequently, Ogun State government has appointed an Abeokuta-born David Ajibola Akinremi, a retired Commissioner of Police in charge of Taraba State Police Command and ex-Head of X-Squad Section of Nigeria Police Force, as Commandant of Ogun State Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun Corps, to kick-start operations this January.
The state government will also commence the registration and implementation of the Residents Identification Cards to provide a reliable database of the people living in the state in addition to the security operations of Amotekun Security Corps with a view to protecting lives and property of residents, visitors and investors.
Speaking on the preparations towards the launch of Residents Identification Cards and inauguration of Amotekun Corps in the state, Governor Dapo Abiodun said that the Amotekun security outfit, which would complement the efforts of existing security agencies, would be headed by a Retired Commissioner of Police, as its Commandant.
“Our Amotekun Security Network will also take off this month to complement the efforts of other security agencies including the community policing of the Nigeria Police. An experienced and reputable retired Commissioner of Police has been appointed as the Commandant, and the recruitment of personnel is ongoing.
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