Osun governor calls for immediate unsealing of Amotekun corps

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called on the Nigeria Police to immediately unseal the Western Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, to enable it to address emerging security threats in the state, particularly the rising cases of banditry and kidnapping.

The governor expressed concern over the possible spillover of banditry and kidnapping from neighbouring Kwara State into Osun, stressing that the continued sealing of Amotekun operations has weakened the state’s overall security response.

It will be recalled that the Amotekun office was sealed by the police following a clash between its operatives and residents of Akinlalu community in Ife North Local Government Area—an incident that reportedly led to the killing of some persons, after which top officers of the corps were arrested and detained.

Adeleke, who spoke while reacting to another reported case of kidnapping in the Ora-Igbomina area of Osun State, said in a statement by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, that the state had been handicapped in responding effectively to security challenges because the Amotekun service had remained sealed by the police, with its top officers detained without trial for several months.

According to the governor, Amotekun had developed strong containment expertise, especially in rural and border communities, noting that the shutdown of its operations had created a security gap now being exploited by bandits and other criminal elements.

He called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to charge the detained Amotekun officers to court and unseal the corps without further delay, warning that continued closure could further endanger rural dwellers and expose the state to increased criminal infiltration.

“I am taking this matter to the public domain in view of another kidnapping at Ora-Igbomina. Closing down Amotekun exposes Osun people to serious risks. I call on the Inspector General of Police to unseal Amotekun and allow its operatives to secure my people across the grassroots.

“Those officers in detention should be charged to court after several months of incarceration. Any further delay in the unsealing of Amotekun will further jeopardise the safety and security of our people,” Adeleke was quoted as saying after a closed-door security meeting.