Herdsmen Attacks: South-West governors move to reposition Amotekun

South-West governors have begun moves to reposition the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), codenamed Operation Amotekun, following reports by stakeholders in the region that the outfit is derailing from its original mission.

The regional security outfit, which was established in January 2020, was established after a security summit as a response to the rising security challenges in the South West region.

 These security challenges range from kidnapping to armed robbery, banditry, farmers-herders’ clashes, and other crimes.

However, since its launch, there have been allegations of unjust harassment and extra-judicial killings against officials of the outfit.

While it has recorded a measure of success in some areas, operatives of the outfit have also dabbled into some areas which were not their responsibility while banditry and attacks by killer herdsmen have been on the rise.

Last month, Amitolu Shittu, the Osun State field commandant of Amotekun, incurred the wrath of Nigerians when he said the outfit would not tolerate indecent dressing and bastardising of Yoruba language by the youths in the society.

Last week, the operatives of Amotekun in Oyo State were also in the news for the wrong reasons when they arrested some schoolboys who allegedly identified them-selves as Marlians.

Following the killing of a popular politician, Fatai Aborode, who was allegedly murdered by Fulani herdsmen for complaining that herders destroyed his 400- acre cashew farm in Igangan, Ibarapa Local Government Area of Oyo State, a popular Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo, well known as Sunday Igboho, alongside his followers, stormed the Fulani settlement in the ancient town where he gave the Seriki Fulani, Salihu Abdulkadir, a seven-day ultimate to vacate the area.

At the expiration of the ultimatum, Igboho made good his threat by ejecting Abdulkadir and other herdsmen accused of perpetrating crimes ranging from kidnappings, killings, rape to invasion of farmlands with their cattle.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, last week, also issued a seven day ultimatum to herdsmen in the forests reserves to leave the area as part of measures to curb kidnappings and banditry.

A government official said the South West governors – Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti State), Seyi Makinde (Oyo State), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun State), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun State), and Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State – were already taking steps to reposition Amotekun, beginning with the recruitment process.

According to him, the governors realised that if Amotekun had done its job well, the likes of Sunday Igboho would not spring up to wage the war against bandits in the South-West. (Daily Independent)