The Amotekun Corps has intensified efforts to tackle banditry and other criminal activities in the South-West region, mobilizing over 2,000 personnel to flush out criminals hiding in forests. The move comes amid rising concerns over kidnappings and other crimes linked to bandits infiltrating the region.
Ogun and Osun states lead the initiative, with plans to recruit 1,000 additional operatives each. Oyo State had earlier recruited and deployed 480 forest rangers in October 2023. The state commanders of Amotekun confirmed ongoing recruitment drives to bolster the South-West Security Network.
Ondo State Amotekun Corps Commander, Adetunji Adeleye, stated that “Amotekun rangers are already in the forests to flush out the bandits who may want to use our forests as hideouts. There is no room for bandits in Ondo State.” Adeleye, who also chairs the Amotekun Commanders in the South-West, called for improved resources, including tracking technology and advanced gadgets to enhance operational capabilities.
Similarly, the Ogun Amotekun Corps Commander, Brig-Gen. Alade Adedigba (retd.), disclosed that over 1,000 operatives are actively engaged in combating banditry. Governor Dapo Abiodun has directed the recruitment of an additional 1,000 officers. Adedigba emphasized, “All these steps are geared towards strengthening the corps and ensuring it is much more responsive to insecurity.”
In Osun State, the Corps Commander, Adekunle Omoyele, announced plans to recruit 1,000 new personnel to join the existing 320 operatives. He highlighted the need for sophisticated arms, saying, “The government should enact laws to allow Amotekun personnel to carry sophisticated weapons, as the criminals we contend with are heavily armed.”
Oyo State Amotekun Commandant, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (retd.), revealed that forest rangers have been deployed across 25 local government areas to address banditry and other illegal activities. He noted increased collaboration with community-based security groups and traditional leaders to improve surveillance and intelligence gathering.
“The state government has mobilized all security agencies, including the military, to be on high alert,” Olayanju said. “Our border patrols have been strengthened, and traditional leaders have been tasked with supporting intelligence efforts.”
Across the region, Amotekun commanders expressed concerns over the lack of sophisticated weaponry. Olayanju remarked, “We have consistently sought approval for our personnel to use advanced weapons, but this requires constitutional amendments.”
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In Ekiti, the corps has just over 300 personnel, and plans are underway to recruit more. The state’s Amotekun Commander, Brig-Gen. Olu Adewa (retd.), stated, “The threat perception, financial capacity, and landmass of each state determine the corps’ operations. We eagerly await additional personnel.”
The Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, highlighted the government’s commitment to security. He noted that initiatives like Agro Rangers and Peace Corps collaborations have significantly enhanced the state’s security strategy.
Olatunbosun praised Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s collaboration with federal security agencies, resulting in military deployments to strategic locations in Ekiti. “We have also established task forces to patrol farm clusters and settlements, making it difficult for criminals to operate,” he said.
He added that the state’s agricultural revolution and farm expansions have further disrupted potential hideouts for bandits. “We are making Ekiti a safer place for everyone,” Olatunbosun concluded.
The recent push to secure the South-West follows alarming statistics. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigerians paid N2.23 trillion as ransom between May 2023 and April 2024. The South-West alone recorded 6.9 million crime incidents during the period, highlighting the urgency of Amotekun’s intensified operations.