Shina Peller: Why I am in support of Amotekun

Shina Peller, lawmaker representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Iwajowa and Kajola federal constituency at the house of representatives, says Nigeria needs to understand the importance of community policing in tackling insecurity effectively.

The legislator disclosed this to Hip TV, while reacting to the controversies trailing the newly launched south-west security outfit codenamed: “Amotekun”.

Governors of the south-west states had said the group was established to tackle the rising cases of criminality in the region.

According to Peller, the country would make meaningful progress in its fight against insecurity if local security outfits are empowered to complement mainstream security establishments.

“I have always been a supporter of community policing and I am also even working presently on a bill that I would like to sponsor on setting up some sorts of wards security cadres system because I understand the importance of information gathering in any investigation,” he said.

“And I believe that the main obligation of Amotekun is to gather information, to provide first hand information, to the mainstream security system in a situation where there is a security challenge.  Lets use a simple and layman’s idea of a security system in a place: your home. I don’t believe that there is anybody that knows the security of your house more than you.

“Even if they bring a soldier or police to come and guard your house. As the owner of the house who has been living there, if an armed criminal is coming into your house, you know how to handle it because it is your terrain.

“That is one thing we need to understand in this country. To understand the importance of having our local indigenous security system equipped enough to be able to provide first hand information for the mainstream security system whenever there is an important security issue.”

The establishment of the outfit has been generating ripples across the country with many calling for its ban.

Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation, had earlier described the outfit as illegal, claiming the state governors had no constitutional powers to float such agency.