Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has enjoined governors of the South-West region to immediately empower Western Nigeria Security Network, also known as Amotekun, O’dua Peoples Congress, OPC, and other local security apparatus without further delay.

MURIC noted that this is necessary in order to address and tackle the alarming rate of kidnapping and other violent crimes in the region.

MURIC Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, made the call in a statement issued on Friday.

NEWSMEN reports that the region has in the last few weeks witnessed series of kidnapping and other social problems.

The latest was the abduction of 39 students and seven teachers in some communities in Oriire local government area in Oyo State.

Akintola in the statement urged governors in the South-West to urgently empower and equip operatives of Amotekun, OPC and other local security apparatus to tackle the problems in the region.

He noted that people of the region should not wait until the enemy have their ways before actions are taken.

He added that more personnel should be recruited into the Amotekun Corps for effective service delivery.

MURIC advises South-West governments to prepare vigilante groups as first responders. Groups like the Oduduwa Peoples Congress (OPC) and Iru Ekun should be empowered in order to halt the advance of bandits.

“More personnel should be recruited into the Amotekun Corps for effectiveness.

“MURIC charges Yoruba Muslims to take inspiration from the Glorious Qur’an on the need to confront bandits. In a rare manifestation of battlefield emboldment, the Glorious Qur’an assured us that our enemies are mere mortals who feel what we feel. They also can sustain injuries and feel pain just as you can sustain injuries and feel pain (3:140).

Embolding us further, the Glorious Qur’an says, ‘And do not weaken in pursuing the enemy. If you are suffering, they are suffering as you are suffering; but you hope from Allah that which they do not hope for. And Allah is Ever-Knowing, All-Wise.’ (4:104)

“We encourage Yoruba Christians to replicate this approach to criminality in the region. Bandits have a field day when we turn and run. But they don’t like confrontation. We must therefore meet their force with force, bullet for bullet, stratagem for stratagem. There must be balance of terror if we are going to succeed in stopping these hoodlums,” MURIC said in the statement.