Recently, the governors of the six states of the Southwest region of Nigeria- Ekiti, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Osun and Ondo came together to form a security outfit, codenamed Amotekun. On Tuesday, three State Houses of Assembly – Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Lagos- passed their Amotekun Bills into law, waiting for their governors to give their assents.
The security outfit is formed basically to defend the region in view of the rising insecurity in the country, accentuated by indiscriminate killings, kidnappings, banditry and destruction of farmlands.
Amotekun is quite significant for this security outfit. It is a Yoruba name meaning Leopard. Amotekun is not an ordinary animal. It is an animal that exudes confidence, jumps and runs with extraordinary speed to get at its target.
The headquarters of Operation Amotekun will be located in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Amotekun will help the Police, other security agencies and traditional rulers in curbing crimes in the society, as well as check the recurring farmers-herders clashes.
Amotekun will complement the police in protecting the people, especially Nigerians and foreign nationals living in the Southwest region. Amotekun operatives will carry Dane guns that are similar to the ones hunters carry during their operation.
Amotekun was birthed on January 9, 2020 collectively by the Southwest governors: Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Isiaka Oyetola (Osun) and Babajide Sanwoolu (Lagos).
