South West Initiated Security Outfit ‘Amotekun’ – My Stance

By: Sulyman Adam Opeyemi
18/01/2020

Since the inception of ‘Amotekun – the new security outfit in South West region – by the governors of Southwest region of Nigeria different opinions ranging from commendation and condemnation has been making dailies headlines. Apart from the public opinions, the central government has declared it illegal which makes the outfit’s future full of uncertainty.

Southwest geo-political zone has come to this end of initiating a new security outfit which they have power to control to curb the issue of insecurity in the region. This insecurity issue has been incessant problem which needs a security outfit of this kind because most of this problem which include banditry, kidnapping, herdsman and farmers clashes e.t.c. which needs prompt interference from the government but of which they are doing little or nothing to stop the menaces.

To safeguard the life and property of the citizen was part of the sworn-in oath of this governor, so when insecurity is incessant in their states it’s their responsible to maintain peace and order by synergizing with the central government, but what if the central government do not turn up?

Surrounding this security outfit – Amotekun – are different advantages which can foster the peace and security in the region because most act of insecurity been carried out in the region are in the village/bush area where there are little or no security agency provided to safeguard the dwellers of areas. So, providing this as solution to the problem of insecurity in the region is most pertinent because the security outfit we recruit the dwellers of the affected areas as well as local hunters who know the nooks and crannies of the vicinity. And this will serves as long lasting solution to insecurity problem and foster peace and harmony in the areas.

However, as laudable as this initiative was, the central government has declared it illegal, why? Although defence was on the exclusive list as pertain to federalism, which means it is reserved as responsibility for the central government but the situation on ground required synergy effort of central and component government. So, step taken by Southwest governors should not be declared illegal but seen as obliging initiative.

Nonetheless, the declaration of ‘Amotekun’ security outfit as illegal is a bias pronouncement by the central government because such step has been taken in some part of the country not long ago. A similar outfit is that initiated by the Borno state government which required them to recruit hundreds of local hunters to counter the deadly terrorist in the state – which serve as synergy effort between the central and the state government.

Having said this, the Southwest governors are faulty on the side of not making and passing the initiative as law. Although protection of life and property of a state should be priority of the governor but initiating such jointly and perpetual existence outfit without making it law is flaw on their side.

To this end, I would say the initiative is laudable so far it is not a threat to the security of the country and the region but as a security strengthen to it. Moreover, the central government on their side should see this as a complement to their effort not as threat or a define of incapability.