South-West states security outfit, Amotekun, is combating rising insecurity, particularly kidnapping, which has surged in the region.
Amotekun, which was established in 2020, and commenced operation in 2021 in the six states, has recorded successes in tackling kidnapping and armed robbery.
But, rising crimes are giving residents concern over its inability to sustain its feats.
Kidnapping, cult clashes and armed robbery have recently increased in Osun, Ondo, Èkìtì and Ogun states, unleashing panic on the people.
Between July and September, kidnappers were on the prowl, abducting commuters on some roads.
In Èkìtì State, on July 2, gunmen abducted four persons along Oke-Ako-Irele road in Ikole Local Government Area of the state.
The incident, which occurred at about 7:30pm, involved the occupants of two vehicles – a commercial car and a truck conveying charcoal.
Five days after the Oke-Ako incident, the All Progressives Congress (APC) state chairman, Paul Omotoso, a lawyer, was abducted alongside two persons on Agbado-Imesi road.
Ransom was believed to have been paid before their release four days after.
On September 4, arms wielding attackers invaded Itapaji-Ekiti also in Ikole Local Government Area, killing one and abducting two persons, who were held hostage for five days before they were released on September 3.
But the activities of the kidnappers and other criminal elements are currently on downward trend as a result of the proactive measures taken by Amotekun in the six states.
The Special Adviser to Ekiti State governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on security, Brig-Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, said Ekiti was safe and peaceful as a result of the collaborative efforts of the security agencies.
He said: “Before now, the Oke Ako – Irele – Ayedun road was a ‘no go’ area. But now, it isn’t so. Security agencies have worked round the clock to ensure that people in that area can go about their daily activities because that area is an investment hub. We don’t want to discourage our investors. So, we had to invest everything we could, to ensure the place became safe.”
In Ondo State, kidnapping and other criminal activities appear to be on the rise in recent times, despite the fact that Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) has been in the fore-front of the Amotekun initiative.
Just last month, 19 members of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), who were on a journey to a wake-keep were kidnapped at Ifon, Ose Local Government Area of the state.
Eight of the victims managed to escape due to pressure from security operatives, but others spent seven days in the kidnappers’ den before they were released after ransom payment.
In October, a driver and his eight passengers were ambushed by armed robbers in Ondo town, along Ayeyemi area.
The robbers, who were armed with dangerous weapons, robbed their victims and made away with several items, including the sum of N16m.
Last week, one Onifade Kazeem was abducted at Ago Oyinbo/Ago Dada community via Ala.
He paid N1m ransom before he was released.
Recently, an alert by a commercial driver prevented the abduction of a 13-year old boy identified as Abraham Stephen, who lives in Odo-Ijimo, Iyere Owo in Owo Local Government Area.
The victim was being abducted to Ibadan when he was rescued.
Ondo State Amotekun Commandant, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, said the trend was in line with rising criminal activities in ‘ember months’ every year.
He said the release of the kidnapped CAC members was due to pressure from security operatives.
Adeleye stated that the security outfit had arrested over 7,000 criminals across the state within the last three years of its operation.
In Ogun State, Amotekun is battling cultists and other criminals.
The Deputy Commander of the corps in the gateway state, Cdr. Aina Oluwakayode, said there was a relative drop in crime rate, following the emergence of Amotekun, which was supporting and complementing other security agencies.
He said: “Generally, crime rates have been on the decline in Ogun State and Amotekun Corps has been performing its functions to complement the efforts of other security agencies to make the state safer for residents, investors and businesses.”
Oluwakayode said even when the corps had just come out of bereavement with the demise of its commandant, the late David Akinremi, a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), who passed on in June this year, its efforts at combating crimes had been successful.
Oluwakayode said the operatives had foiled many crimes and arrested crime suspects in recent times, including a 34-year-old Adebiyi Samuel, who fled Lekki Phase II, Lagos and hid himself in Ijebu-Igbo area of Ogun State, after he had allegedly murdered his 27-year old wife, Serah Ogungbe.
Security situation is only a bit better in Osun State.
In the past few months, kidnapping has been on the increase in Osogbo, the state capital.
The Commandant of Amotekun, Brig-Gen. Bashir Adewinmbi (rtd), identified two major challenges facing the outfit, which he noted Governor Ademola Adeleke had tackled
The challenges, however, are inadequate personnel and inability of the corps to bear arms.
But the commandant disclosed that Adeleke had already given approval for recruitment of 700 personnel for the corps.
In Òyó State, the level of kidnapping and farmer-herder clashes in Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa areas has dropped.
Prior to the establishment of Amotekun, Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode road, Ibadan-Lagos road, and Oyo-Ogbomoso road were invaded by kidnappers.
But the efforts of security operatives, particularly Amotekun, have yielded positive results in preventing criminal activities.
Now, farmers are able to farm without fear while every part of the state is peaceful.
Òyó Amotekun, with over 1,500 personnel spread across different parts of the state, has in recent times incorporated community intelligence gathering strategy into its operations, which has made the corps to reinvent itself in a bid to serve the people better.
A source said there were obvious challenges confronting the state command.
According to the source, the refusal of the Federal Government to allow Amotekun personnel to bear sophisticated arms, particularly AK-47, has made the operatives vulnerable to criminals who carry heavy arms.
He said: “ Inability to carry appropriate weapons, particularly AK-47, has been a major drawback for the Amotekun corps. The criminals that are increasingly confronting them, both within and in city outskirts, are usually well armed, hence, in certain instances, Amotekun must wait for the arrival of the police before they can chase after them.
“But it must be said that in spite of this, the bravery displayed on several occasions has been simply amazing.”
