BEVERLY HILLS, January 23, (THEWILL) – The federal government has made a U-turn and agreed to support Amotekun, the vigilante group launched by the south west states to fight crime in the zone.
The agreement was reached Thursday following a meeting between Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, South West Governors, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police.
Laolu Akande, Vice President Osinbajo’s spokesman, said the meeting was at the instance of the Governors who had asked to see President Muhammadu Buhari over the controversy surrounding the Amotekun Initiative. However due to the President’s foreign engagement, he asked the Vice President to host the meeting.
“The meeting was very fruitful and unanimous resolutions were made on the way forward.
“Having regard to the need for all hands to be on deck in addressing the security concerns across the country, it was agreed that the structure of Amotekun should also align with the Community Policing strategy of the Federal Government.
“It was also agreed that necessary legal instruments will be put in place by each of the States to give legal backing to the initiative and address all issues concerning the regulation of the security structure,” the spokesman said in the statement.
THEWILL recalls that the Attorney-General of the Federation had declared the vigilante group illegal drawing an uproar from indigenes of the zones.
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