TRACKING> So I read in amazement a widely circulated report that the federal government is uncomfortable with Amotekun, a newly launched collaborative regional security outfit by governors of southwest geopolitical zone under the umbrella of Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission.
The outfit, is meant to help in combating security challenges in the southwest geopolitical zone especially in intelligence gathering. It is headed by the Commissioner of Police in each of the six states in the geopolitical zone, that include Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states. Its structure involves the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and registered vigilante outfits.
In fact, when the news of its launch was made public, there were cheers and celebrations by indigenous people and residents of the zone.
We may recall that in the last few years, the southwest geopolitical zone has been in the news for its various security challenges, ranging from kidnapping by suspected Fulani herdsmen, ritual killings, armed robbery and other security vices. Nigerians will not forget how Chief Olu Falae, a former secretary to the government of the federation, was kidnapped inside his own farm in Ondo state by suspected Fulani herdsmen in 2016. Nigerians cannot forget how Badoo gang inflicted nightmare and death to citizens and residents of Ikorodu in Lagos state between 2016 and 2017, and how it took a while before such situation could be brought calm; in fact, it cost lives of many and brought pains and sorrows to hundreds of people.
In fact, as at today, many farmers in the southwest geopolitical zone are afraid of going to their own farms to hustle for their own means of livelihood because of the fear of marauding herdsmen, kidnappers and other criminals in the zone. Therefore, a collaborative effort among the states is only but a welcome development that is long overdue.But surprisingly, the federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari appears to be uncomfortable with the development.
The position of the federal government is shocking because Amotekun, the newly launched outfit, is not a parallel security organisation, it is more like a collaborative effort among legitimate security agencies and government recognized vigilante organisations across the six states in view. It is an outfit that is headed by the Commissioner of Police in each of these states; who are agents of the federal government.
What then is the fears of the federal government and other critics of Amotekun? Why should the federal government that has continued to keep silence about Hisbah Police, a parallel security organisation that is in existence in most states in the north namely, Zamfara State, Kano State, Sokoto State, Katsina State, Bauchi State, Borno State, Jigawa State, Kebbi State and Yobe State, making arrests and executing provisions of the Sharia laws even when such laws do not contravene the laws of the federal republic of Nigeria? In fact, this Hisbah police are so empowered by the government of these aforementioned states that they are feared even more than the Nigeria police.
Therefore, why should the government that sees nothing amiss in a parallel security organisation like Hisbah be raising eyebrows over Amotekun, a legal security formation that consists of constitutionally recognized security organisations? If for anything, the federal government should commend Governors Rotimi Akeredolu, Kayode Fayemi, Babajide Sanwoolu, Seyi Makinde, Dapo Abiodun and Gboyega Oyetola of Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos, Oyo, Ogun and Osun states respectively for taking it upon themselves to ensure that the southwest geopolitical zone is rid of crime.
