Amotekun and the Northern Uproar

Yemi Olakitan

Nigeria has been plagued with insecurities since the days of former President Good luck Jonathan, while many thought the former President’s exit will usher in a new dispensation of peace and tranquility, they are awoken to a very rude shock as things only got worse.  Kidnappings, armed robbery, high profile murders and other criminal activities have bedeviled Nigerians and there seems to be no way out of the menace.  The Southwest region have been worst hit last year with unending reports of rape, killings and all manner of felony especially by certain Fulani herdsmen. The failure of the Nigerian police and other security agencies in the country have led to a search for other alternatives to policing in order to ensure the safety of lives and properties in Nigeria. It has forced concerned Nigerians to wear a thinking cap.  

it is as a result of this distressing security challenges that the southwest governors came together to set up Amotekun Security outfit. While there has been massive support from every leader of thought, in the southwest, hailing Amotekun, including Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, opposition had come from the North and the Federal Government itself. 

Shortly after the security outfit was launched, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami declared the outfit illegal.  Miyetti Allah after urging South-West leaders to dump their regional security outfit for the sake of 2023 presidency, urged the Federal Government to arrest Yoruba leaders behind Amotekun.

Ironically, the Southwestern states of Nigeria are not alone in setting up security outfits in the federation.  The Civilian Joint Task Force, fondly called, JTF is reported to have contributed immensely to the fight against terrorism in the North. They have joined hands with the Nigerian Army in the battle against terrorism in northern Nigeria with support from the Federal Government. Similarly, the governments of Kano and Zamfara states have the Hisbar Corps. According to reports, about 23 states have similar Vigilante security outfits.

 In Kaduna, Sokoto, Kano, Zamfara, Ondo, Ebonyi, Edo, Nazarawa, Plateau, Niger, Bauchi and Abia, there are such groups operating side by side the Nigerian Police Force.

A classic example is Borno state which was heavily hit by Boko Haram terrorism, the state government created a handful of security outfits, one was called, BOYES, Borno Youths Volunteers, they work in collaboration with the Nigerian military to fight Boko Harams. Borno state also has local hunters and other vigilante groups which have worked with security agencies long before terror attacks began in the state. The state Governor Professor Bagana Zulum employed the services of hunters from across the north and neighbouring countries to help fight terrorism and other forms of criminality in the state. These groups carry light arms; locally made guns and pomp action guns to help their operations. 

AN24.net had a chat with Pa Ayodele Ogunjobi, a social commentator and blogger, he said, ‘‘Amotekun is a worthy venture aimed at protecting lives and properties in the region. There are mountains of evidence that vigilante and security outfits are not a new thing in Nigeria. The fierce opposition from the north including the Federal Government is what surprises many people. It was even suggested that Amotekun is a regional Army set up to speed up the way for Oduduwa Republic, a claim that has been denied by Yoruba leaders.’’   Ogunjobi said, the opposition only reveals that the Northerners have skeleton in their cupboard. They have a hidden agenda which the Amotekun security outfit will prevent from coming to pass, otherwise why the opposition?’’ he said.

AN24.net also had a chat with Chief Bayode Ogunmupe, veteran Journalist, economist and social critic, he said, ‘’the Federal Government have displayed a high level insensitivity to the issues of security in Nigeria. Their massive opposition to Amotekun security outfit has exposed this insensitivity to security problems facing the nation. It shows that their aim is political domination of the rest of the country.  Consider that, some time ago, the APC governors’ forum had a meeting and made a recommendation for state police as a panacea to insecurity, yet the Federal Government refused to implement this recommendation.  Vice President, Yemi Osibajo had also recommended state or regional police, yet the President refused to yield.  The southwest Governors cannot fold their hands while their people are being slaughtered by criminal elements that have invaded their states.’’

A chieftain of Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, also alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari is opposed to the Southwest security outfit, because the president wants to rule Nigeria by force, hence, his alleged opposition to Amotekun. Adebanjo said the solution to the security challenge in the country was state police. He said: “that is why Buhari is opposed to it because he wants to rule the country by force. “So, those of you who are honest you need to bring Buhari to restructure this country and send us back to true federalism; let everybody develop at his own pace.’’

However, the South West governors have moved fast to give legal backing to Amotekun security outfit, bills concerning Amotekun are reportedly in all the state house of Assemblies as we speak.  Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu vowed that the Federal Government cannot stop the security outfit, saying, Amotekun is not a regional Army.

The People’s Democratic Party Chieftain, Chief Sunny Onuesoke said the grassroots oriented and bottom up structure of Amotekun is the best approach to community policing. He described the Federal Government position as unfair. He said the use of village hunters and vigilante groups adopted by the security outfit will help curb insecurity in the region since these people know their areas better. He said, it is out of place for the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federation to say the security outfit is illegal when the Civil Defense, Civilian JTF and Sharia Police were already in existence in Northern Nigeria.

Toyin Falola, a globally renowned scholar, and Professor of History at the university of Texas United States of America said, ‘‘there is a context to this politically generated controversy, the events that led to the Nigerian civil war from 1967 and 1979 continue to haunt us, the fear of ethnic marginalization is real, the opinion that the Hausa Fulani is power hungry and not ready to yield control of the center is held both in public and private discussions. The fear of an impending islamisation is a conversation in Christian households. The controversy on Amotekun is inspired by mutual distrust, the members of the political class in the North sees Amotekun as a red flag, fearing that it may be the first step in creating an Oduduwa Republic.’’

Whatever the mistrust is all about, AN24.net gathered that the southwest people are in one accord and the governors are not about to step down on Amotekun. It seems Amotekun will remain with us for a long time to come.