South-West Governments Gets Approval To Float Regional Security Network “WNSN”

Governors from the south-west states have obtained approval from the office of the national security adviser (NSA) to set up a regional security outfit named Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN).

According to The Nation, following the approval of Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), the joint task force will specifically tackle insecurity issues in the region.

In preparation for the inauguration of the security outfit by October, the governors have reportedly purchased patrol vans to be used by each state.

The security outfit, which is reported to comprise local hunters and members of the O’odua Peoples Congress (OPC), has a team that will coordinate intelligence gathering.

The operatives are to monitor neighborhood activities and also comb forests in the region.

Members of the team are also expected to work with traditional rulers and other security outfits in order to ensure they work within the ambit of the law for effective operations.

Insecurity heightened in the region in June and July with the incidents reaching an alarming rate on the Ibadan-Ikire-Ife Road, Ilesa-Akure Road and roads in Akoko area of Oyo, Osun and Ondo states respectively.

The fear generated by the incidents prompted the governors of Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Lagos, Ogun and Ekiti states to come together to seek a regional approach to tackling the menace.

Rotimi Akeredolu, chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum, had told journalists after the meeting in Ibadan that the security architecture of the region would change from August.

Speaking earlier in the month, Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ogun state, had said the joint security team would patrol major roads and provide adequate security for residents of the region.

The governors met with President Muhammadu Buhari in June after a presidential panel on human rights abuses by special anti-robbery squad (SARS) recommended the establishment of state and local government police, but the governors did not reach an agreement on the matter.

Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and Lagos are the states in the south-west region.