Agency Report
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has said the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun and other local security outfits cannot match bandits and terrorists.
The Governor stated local security outfits such as Amotekun and vigilantes do not have the necessary firepower and skill set to face bandits.
Speaking in an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, El-Rufai said both local security outfits and vigilantes can only provide local intelligence.
El-Rufai said the intention of his Ondo state counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu, to procure arms for operatives of Amotekun is a simple way of combating banditry.
He said: “Local security networks can only provide local intelligence. They do not have the firearms to face these guys [bandits].
“These guys sometimes even rout the military. So, people are speaking simplistically when they say ‘I want to get an AK-47 for my Amotekun. You don’t know what you’re dealing with.
“We know. These guys are very well-armed. They are getting arms that are sophisticated. Sometimes they outgun the military.
“Those vigilantes are not up to scratch.”
Speaking further, El-Rufai said Kaduna has been peaceful over the past six weeks, stressing that there had not been any attack in the North West state.
He pointed out that the latest tactics deployed by the military was the reason for the sudden peace in the state.
The governor said Kaduna would be safer if the methods currently being used had been put in place a few years ago.
“I’m happy to say in the last six weeks, there has been a change because the military has now deployed special forces here,” he said.
