Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps) has said the incident in a viral video where officers are subjecting a suspect to inhuman treatment does not depict the true character and operational disposition of security agency under any guise.
The state commandant, Col Olayinka Olayanju(Rtd) in a statement said it is highly regrettable that an unfortunate incident that happened in 2021 (over 3 years ago) due to unprofessional conduct on the part of some overzealous operatives is being used by mischief makers to portray the Agency in bad light.
He explained that the suspect in question was allegedly a member of a syndicate who specializes in robbing commercial motorcyclists at gunpoint, thereafter selling such motorbikes across the border in Benin Republic. When the Agency got wind of the video in March 2021, the case was diligently investigated by the Headquarters of Oyo State Amotekun in Ibadan and the 2 erring operatives who subjected the suspect to inhuman treatment were summarily dismissed from the service of Oyo State Security Network Agency.
He added that the Oyo State Security Network Agency as a lawful organization would not condone or encourage any act that would warrant to abuse or violation of rights of any suspect.
“This is enshrined in the Agency’s basic and continuous training programme for its operatives and severe sanction have been applied on erring operatives who refuses to abide by the Standard Operating Procedures laid down by the Agency for the conduct of its operatives during operational activities, Like any human organization, it is not unlikely to discover errors or negligence on the part of some operatives either for personal gain or to settle scores.”
Olayanju maintained that the Oyo State Security Network Agency has continued to apply stringent sanctions on defaulters while ensuring that adequate and concerted efforts are made to ensure proper conduct and requisite training for operatives in area of respect for suspects’ rights and privileges even where such suspects are caught red-handed with verifiable evidences.
While appealing to members of the public to kindly and most respectfully take it upon themselves to contact the Agency when infractions or violation of rights as well as any gross misconduct is observed on the part of Oyo Amotekun operatives, Olayinka reassure the general public that Oyo State Security Network Agency is a law abiding security outfit out to serve the good people of Oyo State in particular and Nigerians in general. Members of the general public are therefore enjoined to please disregard the said viral video and avoid reposting the video as a recent occurrence.
