Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has formally appealed to Inspector‑General of Police Kayode Egbetokun to order the immediate unsealing of the Amotekun Western Security Network offices in the state, arguing that the continued suspension of the regional security outfit has weakened Osun’s capacity to respond to emerging security threats, including banditry and kidnapping. The appeal underscores growing concerns over security risks along rural and border communities, especially near areas affected by criminal activity in neighbouring Kwara State.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke said the shutdown of Amotekun operations — including the sealing of its offices in Ile‑Ife and Osogbo — has created a gap in the state’s security architecture that criminal elements are already exploiting. The governor noted that some senior Amotekun officers have been detained for several months without trial, further handicapping the corps’ ability to operate and assist in protecting vulnerable communities.
Adeleke highlighted recent incidents of insecurity along the Osun‑Kwara border, including reported kidnappings in the Ora‑Igbomina area, as evidence of the urgent need to restore Amotekun’s operational capacity. He emphasised that the corps had developed specialised skills in addressing security challenges in rural areas and that its absence is being felt amid rising threats. The governor urged the IGP to either charge the detained Amotekun personnel to court or release them, and to authorise the reopening of the corps’ offices so that they can resume their duties.
The sealing of the Amotekun offices followed the Akinlalu incident in late 2025, during which operatives of the state security network were involved in a confrontation that resulted in deaths, prompting a police clampdown that led to arrests and the closure of facilities. Adeleke’s call for reopening comes as part of broader efforts to recalibrate security responses in a context where state and federal agencies work to contain criminal spillovers from neighbouring regions.
Governor Adeleke’s position reflects ongoing debates in Nigeria about the role of state‑level security outfits like Amotekun in a federal security framework. Advocates argue these local networks complement national police operations by offering contextual intelligence and rapid response capabilities in communities that are often underserved by central security deployments. Critics and opponents, however, point out the need for clearer legal mandates, oversight and accountability structures to regulate such bodies and prevent excesses that can fuel tensions.
In urging the unsealing of Amotekun’s offices, Adeleke stressed the urgency of restoring security services at the grassroots. He warned that further delays in resolving the status of the corps could continue to expose rural dwellers to heightened risks and enable criminal infiltration deeper into Osun State.
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