Commandant of the Osun State Security Network, codenamed, Amotekun Corps, Brigadier-General Bashir Adewinmbi (rtd), has said that the war against insecurity could only be won if the state’s residents volunteer information about criminals in their various communities.
Adewinmbi posited that the security of life and property, require the collective efforts of every individual since criminals were not ghosts, but members of various communities.
He made these known while fielding questions from journalists during the ongoing screening of Amotekun Corps recruits in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
The security expert who explained that the state can get rid of criminals only when residents cooperate with security agents by offering useful information that can lead to their arrest, said such security tips would be treated confidentially.
Adewinmbi further explained that the governor of the state, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola has shown that though the criminals may run, there is no hiding place for them in the entire State.
While commending the governor for his proactive approach towards security matters, Adewinmbi urged Osun residents to support the efforts of the corps at stamping out all forms of crimes from the state.
Responding to what is responsible for the rising security challenges in the state, the Amotekun Corps commandant said the recent security challenges was a spill -over effect of the insecurity situation in Nigeria.
He said: “I see the security challenges in the state as a spill-over effect of the insecurity situation in Nigeria. What is happening is not peculiar to Osun State. Osun is relatively peaceful, compared to most of the states in the country.
“Look at what is happening in Niger and Imo States, where they are attacking security structures and personnel. And if that is happening, Nigeria is drifting to a state of anarchy which should not be allowed to happen.
“Most of these things happening are attributed to economic hardship, bad leadership, and lack of interest to work on the part of the youths. Most of the youths are jobless and are doing things to aggravate security issues.
“We need to look into the way our youths are being brought up. We need to appeal to every family and society to look after the children, educate them properly and put them on the right path to know that there are things that should not be done.
“The issue of cultism has been on for a while, but it is escalating now. All these crimes taking place now, have their roots from cultism. It is from cultism that the criminality graduates to bigger crimes. The bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, and rapists, belong to one cult group or the other.
“The government is making efforts to crack down on all these through Amotekun. And I want to assure you that Osun will overcome the security challenge very soon.”