Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has encouraged the chairmen of the state’s 18 local government councils to establish community security guards, often known as vigilantes, in their council areas.
According to the governor, the move will improve security at the grassroots level.
The governor also stated that the Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun Corps, will assist in the training of the vigilante for effective security in their domain.
Akeredolu made the remarks while hosting the state’s Chairmen of Councils on a condolence visit to the governor’s office in Alagbaka, Akure, following the gunmen’s attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo on Sunday.
He emphasized the importance of each local government having its own vigilante to support the Amotekun Corps and other security organizations in the state.
Akeredolu added that his administration will continue to strive for justice and equity regardless of the obstacles.
The Owo attack, he said, was a tragic incident devoid of any sense of decency and a serious assault on humanity.
“You can’t fathom what these mindless terrorists did in that church. It’s not possible for you to imagine it until you are able to get there! To make matters worse if you have the opportunity of visiting the hospital facilities where a couple of victims are being treated, you cannot but weep.
“I can not still fathom the reason behind the attack. Are they antichrists? I don’t know why they went into the church to kill. Are they anti-Catholic? Are they anti-Owo that they choose to come to Owo? One can not understand it,” Governor Akeredolu wondered.
On behalf of his colleagues, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) Chairman in the state, Mr. Augustine Oloruntogbe, expressed his condolences to the Governor and the people of the state, particularly the people of Owo and the victims.
He praised the Governor’s work in all aspects of government, particularly in the security sub-sector, which had won the state the calm it had enjoyed before the unfortunate occurrence.