THE POLICE, AMOTEKUN AND THE “URBAN BANDITS” REFER TO AS OKADA RIDERS, ASHABA ,OGBA TUN- TUN ,OR MEJA IN SOME COMMUNITIES ACROSS NIGERIA ,ONDO STATE NOT A BANANA REPUBLIC !!
THE POLICE,, AMOTEKUN AND THE “URBAN BANDITS” REFERS TO AS OKADA RIDERS,ASHABA , OGBA TUN- TUN ,OR MEJA IN SOME COMMUNITIES ACROSS NIGERIA,ONDO STATE NOT A BANANA REPUBLIC !!
The macabre dance between the Nigeria Police,Ondo Amotekun and the “Urban Bandits” refers to as Okada Riders,Ashaba,Ogba tun-tun ,Meja in some communities across Nigeria,calls for sober reflection.
Apart from the fact that the friction that broke out between the Nigeria Police and the Amotekun Corps was blown out of proportions by the social and traditional media,the open display and allegedly shooting of fire arms by the Amotekun Corps is highly condemnable.
The question that should be agitating the mind of Nigerians now is that,are the Amotekun Corps trained to carry arms and ammunition, have they being licensed by the authority concerned to use guns,talk less of disturbing the peace of the land through sporadic shooting?.
The role being played by the Amotekun Corps to secure Ondo State from the hands of the marauding herdsmen cannot be jettisoned,no doubt about it.But their duties should be a complimentary role to other Federal Security Agencies in Ondo State.
They should help us to concentrate and work hardly in the forest reserves,farms and comb the bushes with a view to apprehending the belligerent Fulanis who are the major threats to Farmers in Ondo State,by calling for the support of the Police,incase they are being overwhelmed.
One of the maladies confronting insecurity in Nigeria can therefore be traced to the unhealthy rivalries, ground standing, superiority muscling, among the security agencies, with the latest brouhaha that broke out between the Police and the Amotekun Corps in Ondo State.
Therefore,the officers and men of the Nigeria Police should be commended for displaying absolute professionalism,decorum and maturity throughout the needless hiccups.
What role should these ” urban bandits” must play to arrest suspected armed and unarmed robbers.Knowingfully well that, whenever there was a problem even minor road wreckages,,the Okada riders who have turned themselves into urban bandits usually resulted into jungle justice.
The suspected robber, alleged to have stolen some items belonging to a church,must be a very important and influential suspect.Initially being wanted by the Police before the entrance of the Amotekun Corps and melee of the “urban bandits”, just to arrest one common robber.
I seem not to understand, whether the Amotekun has the power to arrest and prosecute offenders especially if it has not been assigned to them from superior authority.
There is no iota of doubt in my mind ,that the Commander of Amotekun is an highly cerebral personality that knows his onions.
He should endeavour to critically work in “pari pasu” with not only the Nigeria Police but other Security Agencies in Ondo State because “strong” is the collective voice of men.
Ondo State as at time of writing this piece is relatively peaceful and placid.This great achievement was recorded through the Ondo State Police Command with the collaborative efforts of all the security agencies in the State .
Where will the good people of Ondo run to for protection when the Agencies saddled with the responsibility of securing life and property have turned themselves into Mike Tyson and Mohammed Ali.
The current Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, fanatically believes in collaboration with other sister agencies to make Ondo State free from all form of insecurity. On different fora,he has equally harped that community policing is pivotal to forestall seemingly precarious security situation of Nigeria as well as Ondo State.
By Adefemi Ojopagogo
Immediate Past President of Association of Independent Newspaper Publishers/Member Nigeria Union of Journalists.
He is also the CEO/MANAGING EDITOR OF TODAY’S NEWS online and print.
