Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of Ondi state, on Wednesday reaffirmed that security remains the foundation of sustainable development, declaring that no society can prosper in an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.
The governor made the remarks at the passing-out parade of Batch 05 (BR05) of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun Corps. The ceremony was held at the parade ground of the Ondo State House of Assembly Arcade Complex in Akure.
Aiyedatiwa said no economy can thrive where lives and property are unsafe, stressing that government cannot claim success if it fails in its primary responsibility of protecting citizens.
Describing the event as symbolic, strategic and historic, the governor said the graduation of the new recruits marked a decisive step in consolidating Ondo State’s security architecture.
He also reflected on the legacy of his late predecessor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, who was widely regarded as “Amotekun 001” for his pioneering role in the establishment of the corps.
The governor said the newly inducted operatives had undergone rigorous and comprehensive training, arriving as civilians and leaving as guardians of the state. According to him, the administration’s sustained investment in Amotekun is driven by strategic foresight rather than political considerations.
He described the corps as a community-rooted, intelligence-driven and law-guided institution designed to complement federal security agencies while responding effectively to local realities in line with the Omoluabi ethos.
Aiyedatiwa noted that BR05 represents not just an increase in personnel but an enhancement of operational capacity and doctrine. He disclosed that the recruits were trained in physical conditioning, tactical operations, grassroots intelligence gathering, inter-agency cooperation, rules of engagement, human rights observance, civic responsibility, and ethics.
He urged the operatives to exercise discipline, professional restraint and sound judgment in carrying out their duties, emphasizing that they are agents of the law and not above it. He charged them to act with integrity, fairness and compassion, while maintaining vigilance without intimidation or abuse of power.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to the corps, the governor pledged continued improvements in welfare, logistics, equipment and training to strengthen operational effectiveness.
In his welcome address, Amotekun Commander, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, reiterated that the corps was created to complement, not rival, conventional security agencies. He said Amotekun works in synergy with the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police, the Department of State Services and other relevant agencies to address security challenges peculiar to the state.
Adeleye warned that acts of indiscipline, corruption or collaboration with criminal elements would attract strict sanctions, stressing that the image of the corps depends on the daily conduct of its operatives across communities.