Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo has approved the recruitment of additional 500 corps into the State Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) codenamed Amotekun.

A statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatunbosun, said Mr Makinde announced the approval during the monthly security meeting.

At the meeting with chairmen of local governments, heads of security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the state, the governor said recruiting new corps would enhance Amotekun’s performance and further deepen the state’s security architecture.

He said the meeting, held at the House of Parliament within the premises of the State House of Assembly, was part of his administration’s efforts to enhance the security of lives and property in the state.

Mr Makinde added that the meeting was to get the situation report from various quarters on security and to dialogue on what to do as stakeholders and fine-tune necessary steps.

He said the outcome would help the government put necessary machinery in place for a safer environment.

“Security is everyone’s business, and if we all play our parts well, we will have a safer and more secured environment.

“Though the security of lives and property is a paramount responsibility of government, the government cannot do it alone except with cooperation of the entire citizenry,” Mr Makinde said.

Mr Makinde used the occasion to appreciate the security agencies in the state for their unrelenting support towards making peaceful co-existence among the people of the state possible.

He urged them to keep the pace up to allow for more influx of investments and commercial growth.

In his remarks, a former governor of the state, Rasheed Ladoja, commended Mr Makinde for being proactive in the area of security, stating that such had greatly helped the state.

(NAN)