Since inception, Amotekun, the Security Outfit created by South West governors to tackle rising incidences of crime in the region has generated several controversies as both its proponents and opposition try to grasp the full concept of the setup.
Is Amotekun State police Or Vigilante Group
This is perhaps the greatest ambiguity Amotekun is facing. While some say it’s merely a better-organized vigilante group others believe it is a disguised form of state policing.
During its inauguration on January 9, 2020, in Ibadan, Oyo State, one of the founding governors, Ekiti State’s Kayode Fayemi said:
“We do not want this to create fear in the mind of anybody as we are not creating a regional police force and are fully aware of the steps we must take to have state police”
However, the absence of any form of representation from the Nigerian Police at the launch and reports that IGP Mohammad Adamu has distanced himself from the southwest security outfit is perhaps a signal the authorities do not believe Amotekun is genuinely designed to complement the efforts of mainstream security apparatus.
It does not help that Fayemi had said Amotekun’s creation was in response to the lapses in the operations of Nigeria’s security outfits which has failed to quell escalating criminality in the region and across Nigeria. This could be construed to define Amotekun as an independent working regional security outfit parallel to the Nigerian police.
Operation Amotekun is made up of local hunters, vigilante groups, men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC). The outfit will be recruit 1, 320 militiamen from all the southwest states. This composition is perhaps what fuelled beliefs that Amotekun is a glorified vigilante group.
According to the Adviser to the Kogi State Governor on Security, Jerry Omodara
“What the southwest governors are doing now in terms of Amotekun is nothing different from having Vigilante groups. It’s only the name that’s different”
For the purpose of understanding Amotekun, there are several unanswered questions
- What is the framework for the operations of Amotekun?
- What authority and legal backing does Amotekun have?
- With the Inspector General Of Police Mohammad Adamu not having given his accent on the creation and operation of Amotekun, how then will the outfit work with the police?
These grey areas create the dilemma in defining what exactly Amotekun is.
The Legality of Amotekun
The difficulty in defining Amotekun has also raised questions and debate about the legality of the outfit
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami had announced Amotekun contradicted the laws stating that:
“No state government, whether singly or in a group has the legal right and competence to establish any form of organization or agency for the defense of Nigeria or any of its constituent parts”
Malami’s statement has elicited a series of reactions from different quarters. From Femi Falana to Presidential Adviser and professor of law Itse Sagay as well as former presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar all faulted Malami’s statement just as they encouraged the governors to ignore the attorney general’s directive.
For those who perceive Ametokun as state policing, Malami’s statement could suffice, however those who believe Amotekun is a well-structured vigilante group could hinge their argument on the fact that the law is not quite express on the matter.
It is based on this that proponents of Amotekun like Femi Falana have advised the governors to encourage their state houses of assembly to pass legislation to support Amotekun. This should back the action of the southwestern governors who insist the creation of Amotekun is in line with their responsibility as the chief security officers of their states.
There are reportedly no fewer than 23 quasi-security outfits already in existence across the country, addressing local needs. These have been in existence without the authorities declaring them unconstitutional.
Lagos State has successfully recruited and operated men and women on quasi-security duties without threatening the unity of the country. The Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps(LNSC) is a popular example. The agency was established by a law of the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2016 to assist the Police and other security agencies to maintain law and order in the state. They operate in all the 57 LGA/LCDA in Lagos.
Ethnic Sentiments
Ever since Attorney general Abubakar Malami declared Amotekun Unconstitutional, his statement has raised ethnic sentiments as proponents have accused him of bias.
Many such as former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani Kayode and former Head of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu have asked why the Kano State Hisbah Corps and the Civilian Joint Task Force in Northeast are permitted but Amotekun in Southwest is regarded as illegal?
While security has deteriorated generally across Nigeria, it is well known that the attacks by Fulani herdsmen have become quite rampant in many states of the middle belt, South East and South West. These herdsmen attacks have morphed into kidnappings, armed robbery and murder.
Apart from attacks on locals and farmlands, the July 2019 killing of 58-year-old Mrs. Funke Olakunrin, daughter of Afenifere Chieftain, Pa Reuben Fasoranti by reported herdsmen on the highway between Akure and Ore also influenced the set up of Amoteku.
Malami’s rejection of Amotekun has moved many to believe the government would rather allow these attacks to continue in these (Non-Northern) states.
Dangers of Amotekun
Beyond the positives, Amotekun will bring there are grave concerns that empowering any group for security purposes comes with many dangers. These concerns include the possibility of Amotekun being hijacked by the governors for personal gains
Since their mode of operation is still unclear, human rights abuses are also a source of worry. With issues about its legality still unresolved, how will it handle cases of arrested criminals?
Beyond the immediate foreseeable dangers lie the issue of its sustainability. How would it be funded and what has been put in place to ensure the state governments continue to support Amotekun after the founding governors are gone? It is well known that when people are equipped with security training and information without proper welfare.
What will be their code of conduct? As is sometimes seen with mainstream security outfits, what are the guarantee members will not be compromised or connive with criminals to perpetrate evil?
These grey areas make it difficult for even proponents of Amotekun to fully appreciate the outfit.
Conclusion
One thing is certain, the setting up of Amotekun has reignited the debate on ways to effectively police the country. It is perhaps time for the government to concentrate on effectively rejigging the nation’s security architecture to accommodate all creative means to tackle our rising security problems.
