It’s been two years since the inauguration of a local security outfit, codenamed Amotekun Corps in Ogun state. HAKEEM ADEGBENRO takes a look at the activities of the outfit and conduct so far.
Amotekun was set up after the South-west Security Summit held on June 25 2019 in Ibadan Oyo state to stem the tide of insecurity in the six South-west states of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti.
Imbued with the state of ceaseless security breaches that have permeated the region, the governors saw a need to complement the efforts of the police and other security agencies especially with establishment of a truly indigenous security agency that understands the terrain in the South-west.
The operatives were therefore carefully selected, screened and trained to secure lives and property, while the state governments were mandated to provide vehicles, motorcycles, communication gadgets, technical back-ups and the political will.
Gov Abiodun inaugurates Amotekun
Governor Dapo Abiodun inaugurated the security outfit on April 1, 2021 with appointment of a retired Commissioner of Police, Mr David Akinremi as pioneer Commander.
During the inauguration, Abiodun noted that the operatives were carefully chosen and trained to secure lives and property.
He urged them to diligently add value to strengthen the security of lives and property in the state, advising that they must carry out their duties within the ambit of the law.
“Your role is primarily to prevent crimes. You are to do this through systematic intelligence gathering and collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, especially the security network of other states,” he said.
Two years after
A retrospect of the activities in the last two years has been that of the good, the bad and the ugly.
While Amotekun has been hailed for some superlative feats, it has also been found wanting in the violation of conditions and laws establishing it.
Shooting and detaining man for 3 months
In May, 24, 2022, a 28- year-old Ayodeji Eweje was arrested at Panseke, Abeokuta during Governor Abiodun’s commissioning of the newly-completed Adigbe-Opako road.
Ayodeji said while standing on the pedestrian bridge to have a gaze at the state governor, he was chased away by the operatives and later arrested for an offense he knows nothing about.
“They chased us away from the pedestrian bridge. While trying to find another suitable place to stand so I can get a clearer view of the governor, one officer of Amotekun arrested and handcuffed me immediately. I asked what my offence was; the response I received was a slap on my face.” he said.
That was the beginning of Ayodeji’s ordeal in the hands of Amotekun.
“I was taken to their office on that very day. Immediately I got there, I was beaten blue. Till now, they’ve not told me what my offence was. I was not allowed to call anybody not until after some days one of their officers whose name I can’t mention for security reason secretly gave me his phone to call my parent. I also described my house to him so he can help inform my people that I’ve been locked there.” he narrated
He also alleged that a certain, Emmanuel Aregbesola, the Imeko Afon Coordinator of the Corps, actually shot him and ordered that his leg be amputated.
“I was left untreated till the leg became cancerous before I was taken to a hospital in Imeko where the coordinator asked that the leg be amputated.
Amotekun denied arresting my son – Ayodeji’s mother
Mrs Eweje, mother of Ayodeji said she visited Amotekun office on four different occasions, but they denied having her son in their custody.
She noted that she had concluded that her child was dead before a certain Amotekun officer whose name is concealed for security reason came around to inform the family that her son was in their custody.
“When I told them it was one of theirs officers that informed me, they denied, saying they don’t have my child in their custody.
“I don’t know why they kept my child with them since May, 2022. People of Nigeria, please help me. I saw my son today at FMC, he can’t walk. His body is seriously battered. Nigerians please help me” she appealed.
Amotekun officials are complicit to criminal activities – Human rights official
Comrade Oluwayemisi Brown, founder OBF Justice and Peace, a human right body, noted that she and her team had visited the security outfit’s office in Abeokuta on several occasions and they denied knowledge of Ayodeji.
She added that it took the timely intervention of the police force for them to admit having Ayodeji in their custody.
“Not until we wrote a petition to Eleweeran and the police intervened, these people kept denying that Ayodeji was in their custody.”
“This is a case of gross human rights violation on the path of these Amotekun officials. They’ve illegally detained him for months, they shot him, asked that his leg be cut off. Why?”
A vulcaniser killed in his prime
In April 23, 2022, Tunde Olutayo a vulcaniser was operatives the operatives at a prime age of 25
Although Amotekun commander, Akinremi had tagged the deceased a cultist and armed robber, the mother’s testimony was however different.
Monsurat Alimi, the 49-year-old mother of the deceased revealed how her son was allegedly killed saying that she learnt of her son’s death on Facebook where his corpse was posted with a gun on his chest, as he was tagged a cultist.
“I learnt he was shot by the Amotekun corps the moment he tried to escape from the riverbank.
“When I got to the place where he was shot, eyewitnesses told me that he knew nothing about the incident.
A visit to Amotekun office
When Blueprint correspondent visited the Corps office in Abeokuta for on-the-spot assessment, he was outrightly refused entry even after identifying himself.
Detained operatives tell their story
Sometimes in February, 2023, before the general elections, a certain Idowu Akintoye and Samuel Lekan were detained by the command for allegedly allowing some detainees in their custody to escape.
They were charged for conspiracy and negligence; therefore detained pending the ‘return’ or rearrest of the fleeing detainees.
While Idowu was detained in Abeokuta, Lekan was transferred to Ijebu Ode cell, according to available information.
I don’t know my fate – Amotekun operative
After disguising to be a relative of Idowu, Blueprint correspondent was allowed to see him in the presence of two other operatives.
Idowu revealed that on the fateful day, he and the other operative were placed in charge of some arrested kidnappers who asked to be allowed to do their prayers and as a Muslim too, he obliged them, howbeit with the handcuff on them but said he misjudged their intentions as they later escaped.
“I know it was our fault that they escaped but for over two months, after answering different queries, I still don’t know my fate.
“I am starving here. I hardly eat as my family members were not allowed to see me. You will be the first I have seen in about a month and half that I have been detained here.
I’ve not heard from my husband since Feb – Akintoye’s wife
Toyin Akintoye, wife to one of the detained operatives narrated how her husband’s incarceration began.
“Sometime in February, before the presidential election. I was called that my husband was detained at their office with one other person for allowing some criminals in their care to escape.
“I ran there with his elder sister and we saw him in handcuff on both legs and hands with just his office trouser on.
“We were not even allowed to talk to him and ask any questions to know how it all happened.
“Since then, we have not heard from him again. We can’t even call him and if we go there, we are not allowed to see him. We don’t even know if he is still alive or dead,” she stressed.
Slow process of investigation, reason for continued detention – Amotekun 2i/c
Meanwhile, Omolekan Samuel, the 2i/c Investigation of Ogun Amotekun said the continued incarceration of the two operatives was due to the slow process in dealing with their files at the Bureau of Establishment and Training.
He said though he is not in the admin section of the command, he is however sure their disciplinary case would have been forwarded to the appropriate quarters.
He added that the fear of the two operatives absconding is one of the reasons they are still in custody pending the outcome of the investigation.
We are not aware of their arrests – PPRO
When contacted, the Ogun State Police Command spokesperson, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the command was not aware of any arrests made by the Amotekun Corps, saying that no suspect was handed over to it for prosecution.
“They are not obligated to keep any suspects more than the constitutionally approved 24 hours as even the police don’t have such powers to keep a suspect beyond normal.
“They have not handed over any suspects to us and as such, I can say we are not aware of their arrests. It is what they tell us that we know,” he maintained.
All efforts to reach the Corps Commander, Akinremi proved abortive as his number was said not available.