Presidency has said the Western Nigerian Security Network known as ‘Operation Amotekun’ would now carry out its activities in accordance with the structure defined by the Inspector General of Police.
The Senior Special Assistant to the president on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu said this on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Tuesday.
Shehu was speaking on the approval of N13billion by the federal government for community policing across the 36 states of the federation.
“Whatever name they go by, Amotekun or whatever, will be streamlined and they will be run in accordance with the structure as defined by the Inspector-General of Police. They will be localised, they will be owned by local communities, they will be managed by them,” he said.
The presidential spokesman also stated that the community policing arrangements would all be the same across the states, and that whatever does not go in line with the national structure would not be in the scheme of things.
“You know the constitution of the committees will be defined as including council chairmen, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society groups and all of that. So, you are going to have a single type structure of community policing permitted all across the country and whatever is not in line with this does not have a place in the scheme of things. That is my understanding,” Shehu added.
Regarding the new community policing being introduced by the federal government not to conflict with the Amotekun which was created by Houses of Assembly in the six South-West states, the spokesman said the conflict would only be due to perception.
Shehu said governors were carried along in the process through the National Economic Council which comprises the 36 governors and headed by the vice president.
He said the N13billion approved by the federal government would be used for training, enlightenment and purchase of equipment.