Five years after, funding, inferior weapon, other challenges threaten Amotekun’s operations

Over five years after it establishment, the Southwest security network code named Amotekun has identified inadequate funding, inferior weapon, logistics and lack of power to prosecute as some of the major hindrances being faced in its efforts at maintaining security of the southwest region.

ut despite the challenges, the activities of the security agencies in Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun states have led to noticeable improvement in security, particularly in the hinterland.

Investigations by the Nigerian Tribune across the five states that Amotekun has been operating since its establishment in 2020 showed that incidence of farmer/herders clash has reduced drastically with the efforts of the agency.

In the wake of report of incessant attacks and killings of farmers in parts of the region, the southwest governors led by the late Ondo state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, set up the Amotekun security organization despite the stiff opposition by the federal government.

Prior to the creation of the security outfit spearheaded farmers were abandoning their farmlands, travelers dreaded major routes, and residents constantly lived in fear and going to bed with their two eyes opened.

But findings in these states showed that the security organization has not been able to perform optimally because of the obstacles inhibiting their operations.

Ondo State

However, events in the past years revealed that both Ondo and Ekiti state commands of the outfit have been more prominent in terms of their involvement in provision of security.

In Ondo state, Ondo state, the Amotekun corps is structured as a community-based security agency, relying on both modern operations and indigenous intelligence systems. Its duties are not just limited to patrols; they cut across proactive and reactive security measures.

Amotekun operatives frequently patrol highways such as Akure–Owo, Akure–Ondo, and Ikare–Owo roads and all other areas notorious for kidnapping and robbery incidents.

Apart from this, men of the state security outfit

Given that criminals often take cover in dense forest reserves, Amotekun routinely organizes raids, sometimes in collaboration with hunters and vigilantes, to smoke out kidnappers’ camps.

This led to creation of a specialised unit, known as “Amot Rangers” which was put in place to address the security threats posed by criminal elements, particularly in border areas with neighboring states like Edo, Kogi, and Ekiti and to also prevent farmers-herders clashes and enforce the state’s anti-open grazing law.

Speaking on the operations of the outfit, the state Amotekun Commander, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, said it has achieved remarkable success, citing its effectiveness in confronting criminals like terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers, fostering community trust, and providing peace and security to the region.

According to Adeleye, the Amotekun Corps has been able to address the issue of farmer-herder clashes which was once a significant security concern in the state. He said the conflict had been one of the greatest challenges faced by the security outfit.

He said within three years of Amotekun’s operations in the state, about 200 herders who violated the anti-open grazing law were arrested, while over 10,000 cows were impounded.

He further stated that the enforcement of the anti-open grazing law had been instrumental in curtailing the activities of herders. Public sensitization efforts, also contributed significantly to the cessation of clashes and helped reduce food insecurity in the state.

On the challenges facing Amotekun in the state, Adeleye said the major challenge confronting the agency is inadequate equipment to match the firepower of the criminals. Though, Amotekun faces other daunting obstacles that hamper its operations, which include, funding constraints, logistics and equipment deficit, legal and jurisdictional limitations and inability to carry arms.

One of the most debated issues surrounding Amotekun in Ondo State, and across the South-West, is the question of firearms.

The corps currently operates with limited weaponry, mostly dane guns, locally made rifles, and in some cases pump-action shotguns. These are no match for the sophisticated weapons used by kidnappers, bandits, and armed robbers, who often carry AK-47 rifles and other assault weapons.

The Ondo State Government has consistently argued that for Amotekun to function effectively, its operatives must be legally allowed to bear modern firearms. Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, like his predecessor Rotimi Akeredolu, has repeatedly insisted that the corps cannot secure forests and highways while criminals wield superior firepower.

However, the Nigerian constitution and federal firearms laws place strict restrictions on the use of such weapons by non-federal agencies. This legal bottleneck has made Amotekun heavily reliant on traditional weapons and community intelligence, limiting their operational effectiveness.

On funding, Amotekun is funded solely by the Ondo State Government, unlike federal agencies with national allocations. With limited state revenue and competing demands for infrastructure, education, and salaries, funding is irregular. This affects logistics, welfare, and sustainability of operations.

Above all the absence of federal support also raises sustainability concerns. Unlike the police or army, Amotekun has no guaranteed monthly allocation from Abuja, leaving it at the mercy of fluctuating state revenues

Another challenge confronting the Amotekun is lack of prosecutorial powers. Arrested suspects must be transferred to the police, leading to delays or outright release of criminals due to weak follow-up. In some cases, communities express frustration that suspects apprehended by Amotekun return to the streets within weeks unpunished.

Oyo State

The Oyo state command of Amotekun boasts of no fewer than 181 vehicles, 450 motorcycles and over 2, 500 staff, the largest in the Southwest.

The state government has also approved the procurement of two aircraft manned with surveillance equipment to assist in its efforts to monitor the movements and activities of terrorists and illegal miners and continue to protect  lives and properties.

In Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun areas of Oyo State, once gripped by fear and farmer-herder violence, calm has been restored through the vigilant patrols and conflict resolution efforts of Amotekun personnel.

Speaking, Director General of Amotekun Corps in the state, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (rtd).disclosed that the command has recorded successes in areas of maintaining law and order in collaboration with other security agencies.”

“From rescue operations to forest patrols and dismantling robbery syndicates, we have remained proactive. We’ve also adopted Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) strategies to reduce farmer-herder clashes to the barest minimum.”

“The synergy with federal agencies like the Police, DSS and Agro Rangers has enhanced Amotekun’s reach and reinforced its legitimacy within the state’s security architecture,” he said.

On the challenges faced by the Amotekun Corps, Nigerian Tribune gathered that they lack prosecution power.

“After risking their lives to arrest suspects, operatives are forced to hand over cases to other agencies, delaying justice and often undermining the very trust they build with communities.

Even more dangerous is the issue of inferior weaponry. Criminals are increasingly armed with sophisticated weapons, leaving Amotekun operatives vulnerable in direct confrontations. This imbalance poses a clear threat, not just to the operatives, but to the people they protect.

The Ogun state State Commander of the Corps, Commander Alade Adedigba, Brigadier General (rtd), while speaking on the activities of the organization in the state said the security outfit has been providing adequate security to curb criminal activities.

Adedigba noted that the agency has been receiving support in terms of funding; recruitment of personnel and provision of operational vehicles among others, from the state government to make its duties effective.

The Amotekun Commander said the outfit graduated and absorbed no fewer than 1,500 personnel within the last six months into the system, and they have been adequately deployed to every nooks and crannies of the state.

He solicited for more support from government and also called for partnership from the corporate world and well-meaning individuals in the society to assist the agency.

Adedigba said, “ Government alone cannot tackle the challenge of insecurity in any state. The effort to make our state safe for investors to come and for our people to sleep with their eyes closed also lies in our hands. We will be happy if there is provision for more operational vehicles; motorbikes and communication gadgets; drones etc.

“We must provide adequate information to security agencies on any criminal activities noted in our areas.  Our personnel will work.on the information provided intelligently.

“Our personnel are in every parts of the State while some were deployed to monitor activities in strategic areas.  You see Amotekun personnel on the Lagos Ibadan expressway, covering Ogun State axis; Lagos Abeokuta highway, just a few to mention.”

He explained further that the agency had arrested child traffickers; kidnappers; armed robbers and illegal immigrants.

 In Ekiti State, crime rate has reduced in recent times due to the efforts of the state government and the existing synergy among the established security agencies in the state.

This was further confirmed by a recent report released by a leading Civil Society Organization, Enough Is Enough, where Ekiti was identified as the least state in the country with lower media reported killings and attacks.

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In the report for the second quarter of the 2025 (April to June) only one killing was reported in the state, compared to other states in the region and the country.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the report was as a result of the proactive measures put in place by the Amotekun corps and other security agencies.

Even more dangerous is the issue of inferior weaponry. Criminals are increasingly armed with sophisticated weapons, leaving Amotekun operatives vulnerable in direct confrontations. This imbalance poses a clear threat, not just to the operatives, but to the people they protect.

Ogun State

The Ogun state State Commander of the Corps, Commander Alade Adedigba, Brigadier General (rtd), while speaking on the activities of the organization in the state said the security outfit has been providing adequate security to curb criminal activities.

Adedigba noted that the agency has been receiving support in terms of funding; recruitment of personnel and provision of operational vehicles among others, from the state government to make its duties effective.

The Amotekun Commander said the outfit graduated and absorbed no fewer than 1,500 personnel within the last six months into the system, and they have been adequately deployed to every nooks and crannies of the state.

He solicited for more support from government and also called for partnership from the corporate world and well-meaning individuals in the society to assist the agency.

Adedigba said, “ Government alone cannot tackle the challenge of insecurity in any state. The effort to make our state safe for investors to come and for our people to sleep with their eyes closed also lies in our hands. We will be happy if there is provision for more operational vehicles; motorbikes and communication gadgets; drones etc.

“We must provide adequate information to security agencies on any criminal activities noted in our areas.  Our personnel will work on the information provided intelligently.

“Our personnel are in every part of the State while some were deployed to monitor activities in strategic areas.  You see Amotekun personnel on the Lagos Ibadan expressway, covering Ogun State axis; Lagos Abeokuta highway, just a few to mention.”

He explained further that the agency had arrested child traffickers, kidnappers, armed robbers and illegal immigrants.

Ekiti State

In Ekiti State, crime rate has reduced in recent times due to the efforts of the state government and the existing synergy among the established security agencies in the state.

This was further confirmed by a recent report released by a leading Civil Society Organization, Enough Is Enough, where Ekiti was identified as the least state in the country with lower media reported killings and attacks.

In the report for the second quarter of the 2025 (April to June) only one killing was reported in the state, compared to other states in the region and the country.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the report was as a result of the proactive measures put in place by the Amotekun corps and other security agencies.

Unlike in the past where criminals especially kidnappers practically operate without hindrance in some parts of the state, the situation has been significantly curtailed, hence the less spotlight of insecurities in Ekiti State.

According to findings, the capacity of the Amotekun corps has been built, especially with the recent employment of more personnel to boost the effective coverage of the 16 Local Government Areas of the state.

Our correspondent observed that operatives of the Amotekun corps engage in regular combing of forests especially those bordering neighbouring states to ward off any incursion of bandits into the state, this has significantly paid off with no major attacks especially kidnappings and killings recorded in Ekiti State.

However, stakeholders including traditional rulers have advocated the approval of the federal government for the personnel of Amotekun corps to bear arms so as to be able to tackle the activities of criminal elements who go about with dangerous arms and weapons.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, the Ekiti State corps commander of Amotekun, Brigadier-General Olu Adewa(retd) said the corps in the last few years has contributed to the peaceful atmosphere currently being witnessed in Ekiti State.

He identified the constant support of the administration of Governor Oyebanji to the Amotekun as one of the reasons for the reduction in the criminal activities in the state.

According to him, the state Amotekun corps on a weekly basis combed forests across the 16 LGAs with support from other security agencies, adding that the collaboration with agencies including police and army has helped to address the menace of insecurity.He said, “ We have no threat in Ekiti State due to our proactive nature of operations. We are getting the necessary support from the state government which is helping us to do most of our work.

“Also, we share notes with other agencies in the state and we operate together in most situations. On our part, we carry out periodic mostly daily and weekly patrol of the forests which are being used by bandits as hideout.

“That is the reason, you hardly hear any criminal activities in the state because we don’t wait for it to happen, we plan ahead of them and they (bandits) could not wait around in the state.”

Osun State

In the same vein, the security outfit in Osun state is being faced with some challenges ranging from, lack of sophisticated weapons to confront crimes, lack of adequate funding, lack of encouragement from other Security outfits, inadequate provision of welfare for personnel, occasionally clashing with federal security agencies, lack of prosecution power and many others.

All these challenges are crippling and hindering effective operations of the security operatives to do adequate and copious protections of people’s lives in the state.

Despite all these challenges, the combatants are still waxing stronger and succeeded greatly in tackling many security issues in the state through collaboration with other security agencies.

In his desperate move to tackle some of these challenges, Osun state Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke said, Amotekun will be integrated into state police whenever the Federal Government approves its establishment.

The governor Spoke through the Commissioner for Information Mr Kolapo Alimi, and pointed out the importance of security to the administration saying, Nigeria is due for state.

His words: “Osun State Government is ready to support the idea of the Federal Government on State policing. Any government that fails to embrace security will spend more to address the issue of insecurity. Our government is ready to embrace state police presented by the Federal Government.