Amotekun: South west Governors meant well, but security outfit unconstitutional-Police Affairs Minister

The Federal Government on Saturday continued its opposition to the recently launched regional security outfit, Amotekun, by the governors of the six south west states with the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, declaring it as unconstitutional.
Echoing the position earlier taken by his colleague, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dingyadi said even though the intention behind “Operation Amotekun” was good, it is against the law.
The Police Affairs Minister admitted that the governors in the zone had good intentions for setting up the outfit, but noted that the responsibility for such lies elsewhere, as the constitution bestowed the responsibility of national security on the Federal Government.
”The intentions of the Southwest governors are good. However, some people have expressed fears on the regional security force.
”Security is an exclusive responsibility of the Federal Government being supported at times by state governments and other organisations.
” If Operation Amotekun differs from the support being rendered by state governments to the Federal Government on security matters, then it is unconstitutional,” Dingyadi stated.
Dingyadi, who was speaking in an interview with journalists in Sokoto also advised Nigerians to reduce desperation for money as a way of minimising cases of kidnappings and other crimes in the country.
He noted that it was worrisome identifying close relations among the gangs perpetrating kidnappings.
” It is beyond doubt that some children, couples and relatives are discovered to have participated in the kidnap of their associates.
”All these occur in order to get money, and such magnitude of desperation is beyond ordinary crime.
”Though we have cases of kidnappings and other crimes in our society, the dimensions it is now taking are worrisome,” Dingyadi said.
The minister, who said that the police were doing well in tackling the menace in all forms, enjoined Nigerians to support them in order to ensure maximum success in that regard.
Commenting on the border closure by the Federal Government, Dingyadi said the measure had yielded result regarding the nation’s security aside the achievements recorded in economic activities across the country.
He further stated that the police would perform efficiently if the military personnel were withdrawn from areas affected by insurgency, saying that managing internal security was their primary responsibility.
According to him, the military is involved in tackling insurgency because some national territorial areas were taken over by the insurgents, adding, however, that the police are capable of containing the situation.