Ogun Amotekun faults Sahara Reporters, says outfit well funded by Gov. Abiodun

The Corps Commander of Amotekun in Ogun State, Brig. Gen. A.I. Adedigba (rtd), has dismissed as pure fiction, the story by online news platform, SaharaReporters, alleging that the outfit was being underfunded by the Ogun State government.

Adedigba, who averred that the security outfit’s collaborative frameworks with various security agencies and local stakeholders to foster intelligence-sharing and strategic responses to security challenges in the state are second to none, said Amotekun is being well funded by the Governor Dapo Abiodun administration, describing the report by Sahara Reporters as malicious, misleading, and lacking in substance.

Adedigba noted that since the inception of Amotekun in 2020, the administration had been steadfast in meeting its commitment to providing the necessary resources to ensure the effectiveness of this vital security initiative.

“Governor Abiodun was one of the governors who promptly inaugurated and empowered Amotekun in the state. He has prioritized the safety and well-being of Ogun residents, giving the security outfit 10 brand new Toyota Hilux patrol vehicles and also deploying a comprehensive approach to security through robust funding and other logistical support for Amotekun,” he said.

The Commander noted that contrary to Sahara Reporters’ false claim, substantial allocations to the tune of ₦731,770,793.53 were made to the outfit in 2024. This is against the sum of ₦103 million quoted by the newspaper in its report.

He added: “I can proudly say that our budget has been increased from this initial figure to ₦1.5 billion with the approval of the Ogun State House of Assembly for the year 2025.

“It is very unfortunate that the writer’s sense of judgment was beclouded with mischief to the extent that he couldn’t remember that it is during the same year under review that Ogun Amotekun moved to its newly constructed and well-furnished State Headquarters office accommodation, while the meager amount of ₦10 million claimed to have been spent on services is low compared to the monthly running cost specifically allocated for the operational costs of Amotekun, which includes funds designated for maintaining vehicles, office supplies, and essential operational resources.

“Such allocations ensure that our security personnel are well-equipped to protect our communities effectively,” he added.