At least one thousand Amotekun operatives and vigilantes have been recruited to keep Osun residents safe from killer herdsmen and other criminals, says Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

He stated this on Tuesday as he inaugurated 360 newly-recruited operatives of the State Security Network Agency, known as ‘Amotekun Corps.

The inauguration followed the completion of a 23-day intensive training by the personnel for professional savvy and the task ahead.

Speaking at the ceremony in Ejigbo, Mr Oyetola said, “All Osun citizens must own the corps and provide them with information that will help them to effectively protect us. Amotekun is created to collaborate with the security agencies, the vigilante group, as well as hunters across the state.”

The governor noted that security was critical to “our developmental agenda and a strategy for revolutionising” the state’s economy.

“Consequently,” he told the corps, “you have a crucial role to play in attaining this noble objective. You must, therefore, secure the state with integrity, civility and a high sense of responsibility.”

Even with armed robbery and kidnapping incidents, Mr Oyetola described Osun as “a peaceful” state.

“We all have a responsibility to sustain our ranking as the Most Peaceful State’ in the nation,” he stated. “It is on this note that I implore all the citizens of the state to cooperate with the Amotekun Corps operatives to make security management easy and peaceful so that we can deliver a strong and prosperous Osun.”

The governor, who commended security agencies in the state for their services, assured that the government would continue to support them.

He disclosed that the state government had bought 20 security vehicles with communication gadgets to support security operatives in discharging their responsibilities.

“We have recruited 750 vigilantes across all local governments in the state to provide intelligence on the activities and suspicious movements of criminals to the officials of Amotekun,” added the governor. “We shall continue to provide all the equipment necessary for the successful prosecution of security and execution of the ‘Amotekun Project’.”