Former Inspector General of Police, Sunday Ehindero, says operatives of the South-West Security Network, codenamed Amotekun against, are not legally empowered to carry firearms.
Ehindero spoke on Monday at the Community Policing Sensitisation and Awareness Campaign held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The former IGP said it was unconstitutional for either Amotekun corps or special constables trained for community policing to bear arms.
He warned that the operatives should strictly adhere to the Nigerian constitution, which forbade them from bearing fire-arm in the course of their operations.
Ehindero argued that Amotekun was supposed to be an information and intelligence gathering outfit rather than an arm-bearing one.
He advised that the corps should key into community policing and work in synergy with the Special Constables and the Police Force in order to combat insecurity at the grass roots.
Ehindero, who served as Nigeria’s IGP from 2005 to 2007, said Amotekun operatives should not be hasty to bear arms, but exercise patience until the amendment of the constitution.
“They are not allowed by the law to carry fire arms. They should key into community policing and give their own information. When Amotekun is launched, they will collaborate and cooperate with the police and they will bring intelligence,” he said.
Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone II, Ahmed Iliayasu, in his remarks, argued that crime and criminalities could better be fought and won when the police rest their ability to gain community support than use of force and lethal.
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, in his address, reiterated that the Amotekun Corps would commence operations soon.
The governor assured the people of the state of security of lives and property.