…Commissions 480 forest rangers
By Adeyinka Adeniran
Governor Seyi Makinde on Monday said he will engage more operatives into the Oyo State Security Network Agency and Amotekun Corps and create an arm of the Corps that will use aircraft and drones for surveillance activities.
He said his administration will also build two airstrips to be located in Igbeti, Olorunsogo local government area and Otu, Itesiwaju local government areas of the state.
Makinde said the plans will be achieved within the next one year.
The governor spoke at the passing out of parade of 480 Forest Rangers out of 561 new recruits of the Corps at an event which held at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Iseyin.
He said the government recognize that there is more to be done to address kidnapping, banditry, and other illegal activities in the forest which led to the establishment of the forest rangers as the subunits of Amotekun in 25 local government areas, which are about 480 recruits out of the 561 passing out today.
He added that the forest rangers are to work in forests within their local government areas alongside other stakeholders, such as hunters and other community groups.
According to Makinde, the task of the new forest rangers is to secure the farmers and other people engaged in economic activities, adding that they are also to preserve the natural resources in the forest to prevent illegal activities.
Makinde said “Even though Oyo Amotekun only commenced operations in November 2020, which is almost exactly four years ago, we cannot imagine Oyo State without them. This is how important they have become to our security architecture over these years.
“Before I thank the Amotekun Corps members, let me use this opportunity also to say thank you to our service commanders, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police, Nigerian Air Force, even Nigerian Immigration Service, all the members of the Oyo State Security Council, especially the officers and men that took on the challenge to train the recruits.
“I want to say thank you, and thank you, and thank you for keeping Oyo State safe and secure and ensuring that Oyo State is one of the safest states in Nigeria. I use this opportunity to specially thank all Oyo Amotekun Corps members for the work they have been doing to secure their state so we can all sleep with our eyes closed.
“We recognize that there is more to be done to address kidnapping, banditry, and other illegal activities in our forest.
“And this is what led to the initiative to establish forest rangers as the subunits of Amotekun in 25 local government areas, which are about 480 recruits out of the 561 passing out today.
“These forest rangers are to work in forests within their local government areas alongside other stakeholders, such as hunters and other community groups.
“Their task is to secure our farmers and other people engaged in economic activities. They are also to preserve our natural resources in our forest to prevent illegal activities. This additional Oyo Amotekun recruits passing out today will increase the numbers of Oyo Amotekun to 2,500 Corps members.
“That is double what the rest of the Southwest Amotekun what they have. If you take all the other states put together, maybe they have 1,500 Amotekun, but in Oyo State, we now have a strength of 2,500 Amotekun Corps members.”
Reiterating the commitment of his administration to ensuring that Oyo Amotekun delivers on its mandate, the governor promises to continue to provide the equipment needed and monthly operational grant to ensure smooth operations, adding that group life insurance will be extended to the new recruits just as it was been enjoyed by existing 2,000 operatives.
He said the government will not only pay hardship allowance to the new Forest rangers but to all members of the Corps urging the new recruits to be seen as complementary to the existing Foresters unit, a department in the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.
He added “And finally, I know some people may criticize me for what I’m about to say. I do not care. Criticism is part of this job.
We will employ more Amotekun Corps. And listen to this carefully. We will set up an arm of Amotekun that will use aircraft for surveillance activities. They will use drones. And we will set up two airstrips. One in Igbeti, Olorunsogo local government and one in Otu, Itesiwaju local government area. Hold me responsible to what I’m saying.
“All of this will happen within the next one year. So with the airport in Ibadan, the airstrips in Olorunsogo, in Igbeti, and the airstrip in Otu, before ground troops moved in for any clearance operation, we would have gotten a lot of intelligence and information provided by Amotekun Corps.
Speaking earlier, the Commandant, Oyo state Security Network Agency and Amotekun Corps, Colonel Olayinka Olayanju (rtd), appreciated the governor for the various support to the Corps in terms of materials, cash and logistics.
He said the new recruits are raw hunters who have now been trained to become skilled forest rangers as a result of the need to provide security for farmers to be able to go to their farms.
He said “We began this journey with 35 vehicles and 1,500 dedicated operatives, setting the foundation for what has now become a highly respected and effective security outfit in our dear State.
“Today, thanks to the unwavering support of His Excellency, our fleet has expanded to 182 patrol vehicles and 420 motorcycles. At the conclusion of this ceremony, Oyo Amotekun boast of 2,500 trained and committed men and women standing ready to safeguard our communities. This is no small feat.”
