Tag: amotekun

We‘ll ensure Operation Amotekun is not politicised – Ogun govt.

The Ogun government, on Monday, said it would ensure that the South-West Security Network, popularly known as Operation Amotekun, was not politicized when its bill was eventually passed into law.

Gbolahan Adeniran, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, stated this during a stakeholders’ meeting on the Amotekun bill, held at the state House of Assembly complex in Abeokuta.

Adeniran noted that the recruitment system for the security outfit would be rigorous such that it would not be easy to be hijacked for any political means.

He noted that when operational, the security outfit would ensure that training of personnel was prioritized, adding that this would include intelligence gathering and how to be respectful to people.

The attorney-general, who was excited about the passion of the people of the state concerning the bill, noted that implementation of the bill when passed into law was also key to Operation Amotekun’s success.

“Security is one of the most important aspects of the Gov. Dapo Abiodun-led administration. This public hearing is the most important aspect of the bill. We will look at stakeholders’ contributions and incorporate them into the bill,” he said.

In his contribution, Alhaji Kamaldeen Akintunde, representing Ogun Muslim Council, stated that Operation Amotekun should not be used against the opposition.

Akintunde noted that the recruitment should reflect the socio-political indices of the state, saying that there should be adequate funding, while the use of local and spiritual arms should be allowed.

Mr Yinka Folarin, representative of the human rights community, commended the initiator of the Amotekun bill, saying that the issue of security should be taken seriously by any responsible and responsive government.

Folarin advised that the would-be commander of the agency should be a person with impeccable character, with vast knowledge in security matters.

He added that the appointment of the commander should not be for the governor, but subject to the approval of the Assembly.

Mrs Maureen Okpara, who represented Justice Development and Peace Movements (JDPM), suggested that gifts and donations from individuals should be scrapped from the bill.

Mrs Bunmi Ekundayo, Secretary, Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) in Ogun, noted that the bill was people-oriented, saying that the personnel must pass through psychiatric test before being engaged.

She added that the bill took into consideration Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which spoke about the importance of security and welfare of the people.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other stakeholders at the public hearing included representatives of hunters’ association, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Nigeria Bar Association, NSCDC, Agbekoya group and Community Development Association (CDA).

February 24, 2020
Lagos Assembly to amend neighbourhood corps law for Amotekun

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday commenced the process of amending the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency Law 2019 to accommodate a section for Amotekun Corps.

The House took the first and second reading of the bill at plenary on Thursday and committed the bill to the Committee on Information, Publicity, Security and Strategy to report back to the House sine die, the House is to hold public hearing on the bill on Monday.

The Amotekun Corps when operational is to take charge of security in borders, forest, highways, nooks and crannies of the state to ensure protection against hoodlums, kidnappers, cattle rustlers, bandits etc.

The Corps can also collaborate with other security platforms in other neighbouring states to ensure strengthening of security network in Lagos and such other states.

The Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Sanni had informed the House that he received a letter from the state’s Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Moyosore Onigbanjo on Wednesday 19th February, 2020 on the amendment of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency Law (LNSC), 2019.

The House subsequently took the first and second reading of the Bill entitled a House of Assembly Bill No. 5 Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) Amendment Bill 2020 and for connected purposes.

The Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade (Ikorodu 1) said that the Bill is an executive bill, but that it is predicated on the private member bill that established LNSC, which he said has been working well.

Agunbiade added that the Bill is incorporating the concept of a more dynamic and more strengthened security platform than what they had in Lagos State before.

“The law only needs amendment to energise and strengthen the law owing to various challenges currently confronting the state and the South West region.

“It tries to create a unit out of the LNSC to be referred to as Amotekun Corps to take charge of security in certain areas such as in the forest, highway and other places to protect us against hoodlums, cattle rustling, kidnappers, herdsmen, bandits and others.

“The Amotekun corps is to take charge of security in borders, forest, highways, nooks and crannies of the state to be sure we are protected against hoodlums, herdsmen, cattle rustlers, kidnappers, bandits etc.

The bill provides for a commander for Amotekun Corps who will be a retired police or army officer, and would bear arms with the approval of the police. “They will cooperate with other security platforms in Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti and Osun States,” he said.

In his contribution, Hon. Oluyinka Ogundimu, (Agege 2), while supporting the Bill, commended the foresight of the Lagos State House of Assembly on the security of the state.

Ogundimu stated that the law covers wider areas and made internal security a priority.

He called for local content in the bill, adding that they needed people with native intelligence, and that whoever would be appointed as the Head of the unit should be approved by the House.

In his view, Hon. Rotimi Olowo, (Shomolu 1) said that Amotekun started in Lagos with LNSC, and that the federal police lacked character as their structure has not helped to suppress crime.

“Security is local and it should be localized. The issue of kidnapping and others give credence to the need for community police.

“They should be allowed to use guns. They can reduce armed robbery attack, kidnapping and others. We should allow more money into the system.

“The recruitment of Amotekun should be localized. They should work in their neighbourhood so that they could apprehend criminals in their areas,” he said.

Also supporting the issue, (Hon.) Rasheed Makinde, Ifako/Ijaiye 2 stated that security is local and that the country was getting close to having state police.

“We are setting a pace for other political regions in Nigeria. They can assist when there is any accident on our highways. There would be a collaboration amongst the six western states and beyond,” he said.

While Hon.Setonji David (Badagry 2) said paper qualification must be de-emphasised in recruiting members of the corps, adding that recruitment must be locally based for people living in those communities.

Other lawmakers who contributed to the debate supported the amendment to insert Amotekun corps in the proposed law.

February 20, 2020
Amotekun to run as state-led outfit after IGP’s meeting with South West governors

Governors of south-west states have adopted Amotekun, a joint security outfit, as a state effort and not a regional initiative.

The governors had launched Amotekun on January 9, as a regional security initiative.

But Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation, had opposed the move, saying security remains the exclusive preserve of the federal government.

The governors later reached an agreement with the federal government to map out a legal framework for the outfit.

On Thursday, Mohammed Adamu, the inspector-general of police, and the governors agreed on a framework to operate Amotekun as a state-based initiative and not a regional outfit as originally declared.

At the end of the meeting which held in Lagos, Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo, said a resolution was reached with the police.

Akeredolu, chairman of the south-west governors forum, said the meeting was of “great importance” to the people of the region, adding there was a fruitful discussion with the IGP.

“In addition, we have spoken and we want everyone to know that, Amotekun was not conceived as a regional police, but a state-based security outfit,” he said.

“We have come out of this meeting happy and we have agreed on the resolution. We have shed lights on dark areas and we are on the same page with the police with respect to these issues.”

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, said the meeting was part of the governors’ efforts to champion initiatives and frameworks that continue to provide support and logistics required for effective policing in the region.

In his remarks, the IGP said Amotekun will now operate as a state initiative in collaboration with community policing strategy.

He said every state has an existing security arrangement to fight crime.

“Amotekun is not a regional security outfit. Every state has one form of security arrangement, whether it is vigilante or neighbourhood watch that are working security agencies in the states to fight crime,” he said.

“Amotekun is not different from these initiatives. We have agreed that community policing strategy be infused into the Amotekun structure, so that policing will be initiative of the community members.”

February 14, 2020
Just in: Southwest governors, IGP meet in Lagos over Amotekun

Governors of the Southwest, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adams and others on Thursday met in Lagos over Operation Amotekun, a brand of community policing.

Dignitaries at the summit which has gone into a private session as at the time of filling this report includes: Governors of Lagos, and Ondo states, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Rotimi Akeredolu, while Oyo, Ogun, Osun and Ekiti states are represented by their deputy governors, Engr, Rauf Olaniyan, Engr. (Mrs) Noimot Oyedele, Mr. Benedict Alabi and Mrs. Bisi Egbeyemi respectively.

Also present are: the Inspector General of Police, Mohamned Adamu, all the Commissioners of Police from the six South West states, other security outfits in Lagos state, Commissioners for Justice/Attorney-Generals from the South West states, Royal fathers, Community Development Committee representatives and others.

Chairman, South West Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Akerodolu said, governors of the South West would ensure that they give what it takes for the security of lives and properties in the region.

Akeredolu gave the assurance in his remarks at the on-going South West Governors, the Inspector General of Police and other Stakeholders Summit on Community Policing taking place at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

The governor said it was time to face the truth which is community policing because of the peculiarity of every state, adding that this is what is done in advanced countries and that it was time to embrace it because of numerous security challenges which had overstretched the conventional police.

“This is something of great importance to all of us, something we cannot pretend about, we must be honest with ourselves, all of us agree that we are facing security challenges, the National Assembly, the President, nobody is happy with the way things are going, we must have a rethink about central police, there is too much on the IG’s table”, Aketedolu said.

February 13, 2020
Why operation Amotekun won’t succeed – Miyetti Allah

An elder statesman of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, in Bauchi state, Sadiq Ibrahim Ahmed, has expressed doubt over the successful operation of the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) operation Amotekun.

He said the Nigerian constitution already made provision for a regular security with the establishment of the Police saying a regional security outfit like ‘Amotekun’ has no constitutional backing.

The Elder statesman who spoke with our correspondent in a telephone interview on Saturday also called for the restructuring of the security architecture in the country.

In his words ” Amotekun will not last because it is indigenous, regionalized and lacks constitutional backing, whereas Nigeria is a country governed by the constitution. The constitution had already made provision for regular security with the establishment of the Nigeria Police Force, a regional security outfit like Amotekun is just a breach of the constitution” that is why it will not last . It will only bring problem and conflict”

He alleged that there is a secret motive behind the establishment of Amotekun which is to cleanse the Fulani tribe in the southwest.

”There is a motive behind the establishment which is to cleanse our tribe from the south, that’s is the agenda for its establishment. It is the objective of the government to provide security, any parallel security outfit is unacceptable. Am very sure Amotekun will not be recognized by law and it will never be legalized”

Addressing the challenge of insecurity, Ahmed said the solution to insecurity is for the government to be serious.

He noted that there is need for restructuring of the security architecture of the country especially the police force.

” Am calling for the removal of the service chiefs because they have done nothing. reform the police, the Nigerian Army and all other security forces in the country. If Amotekun is legalized, it will become a black evil. The hizbab security outfit in the north is an umbrella of an Islamic body only meant for Islamic affairs , it should not be compared with Amotekun

February 8, 2020
Amotekun: Southwest AGs ratify legal framework

In line with the constitutional requirements for the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Operation Amotekun to be operational in combating security challenges within the Southwest states, the Attorneys-Generals of the six Southwest states on Friday night put finishing touches to the required legal framework

According to the details of the agreed framework, each of the Southwest states of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and Lagos will have its own legislation and its own security network operatives which will bear the name Amotekun Corps.

Unlike when the absence of some state Governors at the inauguration of the Operation Amotekun outfit caused some furore in the media, all the Attorneys-General were present at the meeting.

Those in attendance include, Prof Oyewole Oyewo (Oyo), Mr Oluwafemi Akande (Osun), Mr Olawale Fapohunda (Ekiti), Mr Adekola Olawole (Ondo), Mr Akingbolahan Adeniran (Ogun) and Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (Lagos) who was represented by the Director of Civil Litigation, Mr S. A Quadri.

The meeting which started around 7pm and lasted for about three hours behind closed doors at Davies Hotel, Bodija, Ibadan was also attended by the officials of the Southwest regional think tank, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, who were led by the Director General, Mr Seye Oyeleye.

Addressing journalists after the meeting in company of the other AGs, Prof Oyewo denied insinuations of any political meaning to the reason the meeting could not hold earlier on Thursday, as planned.

He said “logistics and the challenges of the office of Attorneys-General in the various Southwest states necessitated the change in the meeting day”

Giving the details of the legal framework, Oyewole noted that the bill will be sent to the various states houses of Assemblies after it has been seen by the separate State Executive Councils.

He said the operational details and structural procedures will be in common across the six states to allow for avenues for collaborations to work together.

He reiterated that the security Network is to complement the existing security operative but would be using the local intelligence, expressing optimism that the bill will not take too long before pass to laws by the individual states.

The Oyo AG said “The meeting of the Attorneys-General of the six south west states just concluded and we deliberated on the plan to evolve a collaborative security network/agency in the south west.

“We have been able to come up with a legal framework to back up such establishment of security network in each of the states. So each of the state will have its own legislation and its own security network corp that will bear the name Amotekun Corps.

“There will be standard operational procedure that will also be in common and there will be an avenue for collaboration between the states to work together.

“It must be stated that the security network will be working in collaboration and as a complimentary network with the police and the security agencies and armed forces.

“We will be depending on our local people because of local intelligence. You can say it is community policing, vigilante but this security system under the name of Amotekun Corp has come to stay.

“The draft bills will proceed to the state houses of assembly of each of the states and will be signed into law by the governors of each state. That is where we are now.

“Today is Friday (meeting day), by next week it will go to the state houses of assembly after it has passed through the Excos of each of the states.”

On the postponement of the meeting from Thursday to Friday, he said “It was due to logistical challenges. Each of us have our primary assignments. As you are aware, each of us in our states are facing one issues to another. It is Okada issue in Lagos, local government issues in Oyo and the likes.

“These challenges tend to affect the schedule of the offices of the attorney General, so, basically, those challenges meant that we had to push back, deal with primary assignments and so, today (Friday) we were able to meet and conclude. So. There were no political reasons involved.

“We have all the Attorney Generals here (Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo) and those that are not here are represented. All the states in the south west are represented. All the states are here”

When asked if the new security outfit will be licence to carry arms, ammunition and wear uniform, Prof Oyewo said “Yes, of course, the carrying of arms is legislated by law and the Amotekun outfit will comply with all the laws of the land.

“We have an operational manual that will also be passed as part of the legal framework for each of the states.

“We just want to allay the fears of anybody that has fears that this is just part of the ways to impact the security architecture in Nigeria, to protect lives and properties.

“We have been emphasising Section 14 of the Constitution imposes a duty, a primary duty, on the federal, state and local governments to secure lives and properties and that is exactly what the states here present are doing.”

Asked if the AGs will write to officially inform the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubarkar Malami on the new development, Prof Oyewole noted that “we run a federal system, as long as laws are passed within the competence of our legislation, we don’t need the permission, authority or even the counsel of anybody other than the operators set under the constitution.

“As I have stated and I reiterate, the law is to establish a security network with Amotekun corps and that is what will be presented to the state houses of assembly and that will probably be passed into law.”

February 8, 2020
Amotekun’s recruitment forms ready next week – Akeredolu

Ondo Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has declared the recruitment forms for the South Western Security Outfit codenamed Operation Amotekun will be ready next week.

He spoke through his Special Adviser on Security Matter, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo.

Akeredolu also stated the recruitment on the operation process had begun.

According to him: “We are yet to issue out forms and if there is any form that is out now in Ondo State, it is illegal, we have drafted the forms but we have not issued them out.

“The forms would be out next week. What we want to do is to first recruit. after the recruitment, we will issue out the forms.

“All the traditional rulers and community leaders in the state would be made to sign as guarantors of whoever we want to recruit in their communities.”

February 8, 2020
Amotekun and the future of our republic – Hope O’Rukevbe Eghagha

BY HOPE EGHAGHA

Amotekun, that security outfit that has dominated national discourse in the last two odd weeks, though officially launched by six governors of the Southwest in the ancient and symbolic city of Ibadan, is the natural creation of Abuja, that is, of the federal government. By design or default, Abuja made Amotekun possible and inevitable. Another thesis: the time for Amotekun has come. It should and will lead to many more types of local police across the land. In a sense, ‘local police’ is not new in the current dispensation. There are shades or variants of it in Lagos, Northeast Nigerian and Kano State. It is now a necessity. The inherent structural challenges of the Nigeria police make effective policing impossible.

All the signs of the need for a different approach to security, were there, staring us in the face. The power holders lived in denial, somewhat, failing to grasp the enormity of the challenge to nationhood that inefficiency and parochialism was pushing the country to. From the early insurgency of the armed militias in the Niger Delta to the rise of IPOB and the Boko Haram outburst in Northeast Nigeria, even with half an eye, one could see how brittle and fragile the string around the waist of the dancing masquerade was! Individuals now have their personal security. Neighbourhood watch groups. Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) is more effective than policemen in Lagos and the Southwest states.

The only force that could have prevented Amotekun and other things that are likely to follow, was justice and a very fair government. But the emergence of the current obtuse administration made that possibility a remote one. The current federal government was perceived as being insensitive to the security concerns of other parts of the country. The rise of the Fulani herdsmen did not help matters. Suddenly Nigerians felt that a federal government looked the other way while criminals of an ethnic group went about killing people across the country.

To be sure, there is no way the president could have supported wanton killing. But his response to the Agatu killings was short of statesmanship. The attempt to set up cattle settlements in different parts of the country and seizing hold of shorelines by the federal government was terribly suspicious. The presidency obviously misread the mood of the nation and the effects of some policies. When retired General Theophilus Danjuma came on the side of the people that they should defend themselves, Nigerians knew that the handshake had gone beyond the elbow!

But the biggest conflicting issue is that of having a unified police command under a federal-appointed Inspector General to police the constituent parts of the federation. It is an anomaly. It is detrimental to societal growth. It is an anachronism from the days of military misadventure in government. Policing is local. Security is local. If we agree on this, then we would make a change. A situation in which the Nigeria Police High Command is headed mainly by persons from one section of the country, the madness of 2018 and 2019 was inevitable. Perception is important. Police officers would tell you that they know who their real bosses are!

Let us address the issue of abuse. It is a possibility. In other words, police or security commands that are controlled locally could be used to terrify political opponents. Just the way the federal government currently uses the federal security agencies to its advantage. They are deployed during elections to enforce the will of the ruling party. Used before by PDP. Now being used by APC. But this has not stopped us from using the Nigeria Police in all parts of Nigeria. To avoid abuse of local policing, the federal authorities will have a stronger hand in arresting extreme situations. In other words, citizens could either use the law courts or the federal police to seek redress. If local police fail to secure life and property, it will become an issue in the next election. It is true that initially there will be shaky boundaries. Ultimately, things will shape up.

Other regions should start their security outfits now just as Governor El Rufai has done. It is the way to go. The old Midwest region now made up of Edo and Delta States, of course, should not be left out this strong desire to protect citizens. Already, the Midwest Movement led by Dr. Don-Pedro Obaseki has been on the ground to ensure that once the whistle of regionalism is blown, that region will not be caught napping. It is time for the two governors to synergise and create a security group that will protect the state from incursion. The impunity with which some of the foreign criminals violated lives in the two states should be enough reason to swing into action. As for the Southeast, the Bakassi boys are readily available and should morph into a disciplined force to protect the people. Already, Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has promised to hold dialogue with his counterparts from the Southwest because he wold like to replicate Amotekun in his region.

Against this background therefore, the Federal Attorney General is on his own. To declare Amotekun illegal while he maintained a blind eye to Hisbah, and the Joint Civilian Task Force in the Northeast is the highest form of hypocrisy. For good measure, Hisbah is reported to have arrested a policeman found in the company of three women in a hotel! It is inimical to building confidence across ethnic lines. It makes the federal government sectarian in purpose. The federal government ought to be national in outlook. One law should govern all parts of the country. The state governors should stand firmly and remember that ‘those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety’. Once, at the height of the Cold War on the international scene, there was the notion of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD). Today, in Nigeria, we are working towards Mutually Secured Regions (MSR). Amotekun is the future of Nigeria and the future of Nigeria is Amotekun!

Eghagha can be reached on 08023220393 and heghagha@yahoo.com

February 3, 2020
Amotekun: Fani-Kayode, MURIC leader, Akintola in bitter exchange of words

Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode and the founder, Muslims Right Concern, MURIC, Prof. Ishaq Akintola have engaged in bitter exchange of words.

Fani-Kayode sparked off the war of words when he described Akintola as a traitor to the people of Southwest and dangerous enemy of the South.

He said the MURIC boss is a disgrace to Islam and a slave to the Fulanis.

“Ishaq Akintola is a traitor to the people of the South West and a dangerous enemy of the South. His name is Judas! Not only is he a gutless slave to the Fulani but he is also a disgrace to Islam.

“He should ask his owners and masters why they never allow Oduduwan Muslims to lead in prayer even though Islam got to the South West 400 years before Usman Dan Fodio set foot in northern Nigeria,” he said.

Akintola replied Fani-Kayode on Twitter, describing him as a religious bigot and a hater of the Muslim faith.

“Right of reply : Femi Fani-Kayode is a religious bigot, a Muslim hater,” Akintola tweeted.

January 30, 2020
Amotekun is desperate response to security challenges – Gbajabiamila

House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila on Wednesday canvassed a new approach to tackling the myriad of security challenges in the country.

He said Nigerians should embrace new ideas and not hold tight to a security system that has proved ineffective.

Gbajabiamila described the inauguration of the Western Nigeria Security Network “Operation Amotekun” by governors of the Southwest as a desperate response to the manifestations of insecurity that deprived citizens of their peace.

He spoke during his address to members of the House on Wednesday before the commencement of their debate on the rising security problems in the country.

He said: “Overcoming our overwhelming national security challenges now requires that we be willing to accept new approaches and consider novel ideas.

“Neither the security institutions nor political leaders can afford to hold on too tightly to a status quo whose frustrating limitations are painfully evident, whilst reflexively rejecting innovations that may improve our fortunes if properly implemented.

“Recently, the governors of Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Oyo and Ondo states, took action to implement a regional security network to support the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in preventing crimes and protecting the lives and property of our citizens who live, work and travel through these states.”

“The establishment of Àmòtékùn, as the network is called, has met with commentary from across the country, both for and against.

“Too often, it has seemed to me that lost in these interactions is the hard, brutal and unavoidable fact that Àmòtékùn and other such state or zonal interventions in other parts of the country are a desperate response to the vile manifestations of insecurity that trouble our citizens, depriving them of the peace and security that give life a meaning.

“I do not know that Àmòtékùn or whatever iterations of it may follow, represents the ultimate or perfect solution to the problem of insecurity in our country. Nobody does that.

“What I do know with absolute clarity and certainty is that the localised manifestations of insecurity across the different parts of our country call for unique and localised approaches that take those peculiarities into account.

“What I also know, is that whichever approach we seek, we are obligated to work within the limits imposed by the Constitution to which we all swear allegiance.

“Above all else, I am certain in the knowledge that doing nothing is not an option. We have a responsibility as legislators to support the best efforts of those who act with noble intent to protect our citizens.”

The Speaker asked the Leader of the House and the Minority Leader to take active steps to bring to the floor, appropriate amendments to the Constitution that will ensure that these and other right interventions are firmly in compliance with the laws of the land.”

Gbajabiamila also expressed worry over the fate of millions of Nigerian children and teenagers who are out of school across the country.

The Speaker proposed a special plenary session of the House dedicated to consideration of the issues affecting such children, especially the Almajiris.

January 30, 2020