The Southern
and Middle Belt Leaders Forum has condemned the decision of the Federal
Government to declare Operation Amotekun illegal.
Amotekun, a
security outfit was recently set up by South-West governments to address
insecurity in the region.
The group in
a statement asked the governors to ignore the position of the Federal Government,
delivered by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami,
adding that they should allow the FG to go to court to challenge their
decision.
Mr. Malami
had announced on Tuesday that the paramilitary organization called “Amotekun”
is illegal and runs contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian law.
A position
the forum believes is an abuse of office to suppress the rights of federating
units to secure themselves.
“We consider
his action as an abuse of office to suppress the rights of federating units to
secure themselves and in furtherance of the widely – held suspicion that
sections of the country are deliberately being rendered vulnerable for herdsmen
and other criminals by the Federal Government.
“We ask the
Governors of the South West to ignore Malami and allow him to go to court to
challenge their decision as he cannot constitute himself a court over elected
governors; we are not under military rule.”
The group
explained that contrary to views, the South-West governors are working to
ensure that the lives and property of the region are safe and secure; thereby
challenging the AGF to explain why Operation Amotekun is illegal.
“The right
to preserve your life cannot be under any exclusive list other than the list of
those who have no value for human lives.
“The ultra
vire action of the AGF has further exposed Nigeria as a country under command
and control and governed by a conquest mentality.
“We ask
Malami to tell us what makes Amotekun illegal and Hisbah legal, he should
further explain to us what makes Civilian JTF legal in the North East where
there is war and in Zamfara and Katsina and Kano where there is no war, while
Amotekun is his only illegal take,” they insisted.
Channelnews
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