#Interview

Amotekun has justified its existence – Commander

Akogun Adetunji Adeleye is the pioneer Commander of the Ondo State Security Network, Amotekun Corps. He was reappointed by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. In an interview with Olusola Alatise and Tola Gbadamosi, Adeleye bares his mind on the achievements of the Corps and what to expect in his second term.
Excerpts:

Some of us have an inkling  about  the way you operate. Most times you are  in the forefront, combating crime and making sure the state is peaceful. I think by and large it is  a testimony  of your  love for the state. Before Amotekun came on board, we knew how the state was. With your efforts, we know where we are  now, would  you say there is  justification for the establishment of Amotekun?

Oh, yes. The obvious answer is yes. I will take your mind back to 2020, when we started Amotekun. I must place it on record that there was no roadmap. I started fresh as the pioneer in the southwest. We designed the modus operandi for Amotekun. But I want to say that at that time, the security situation of Ondo State was in a terrible state. If you go to the  market, you are not sure of coming back home safely. If you board a taxi, you are not sure of getting to your destination without being molested. If you go to the  bank, they will collect the money either in the vehicle or before you get home or on the bike.

Of course, farmers could not go to the farm because of the herders activities. So, when we came on board, our immediate challenge was to resolve the farmers’-herders clashes. That really pitched us against a particular section of the community. By and large, we started with mass  education of both the farmers and the herders. We let the herders know their rights and the farmers their rights. And each of those groups has no right to infringe on the rights of the other. While we advised farmers not to take laws into their hands, we equally advised the herders not to destroy people’s farms. We took their minds back to those good old days when all of us went  to Sabo to relax.

We’ve been relating closely together. So why now that we can no longer relate together . But if you look at the formation of Amotekun, it was in the wisdom of the governors of the Southwest then that before the Sambisa issue happens in the Southwest, let them face headlong the security challenges.

And you’ll agree with me that it was almost happening at that time. So we had a dual role of ensuring farmers  go to farm and stopping these herders. So it was a tug of war when we started before we were able to put a lot of things in place. We started with literacy. We did not start with enforcement. After the literacy, we commenced enforcement. That’s why those days when you saw us  arresting  cows all around the places. And you know how easy, let me use the word, easy, it could be to take only one cow from an average Fulani man. So, a situation where we succeeded at that time to arrest well over 2,000 to 3,000 cows sent very strong signals to them that it’s not going to be business as usual. So we came to terms with the leadership of Miyetti Allah. Look at the situation today. We had close to 5,000 petitions a month before, but right now we don’t have 10.

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Thanks to the government for bringing on board the Anti-Open Grazing Law, which made it very easy for us to have a legal backing to face the harassment farmers were used to. Going further, we attended to the issue of robbery. Before now, it’s the yearly ritual in festive periods. But you remember in 2020, I made it known to the public that it was going to be the end. And by the grace of God, none had successfully happened. The attempts that were made in Akure were foiled  by my men and me. So looking at that too, we now move to the issue of the abuse of innocent citizens and businesses within the state.

That was  why  the government at that time issued an executive order banning the use of okada in the night. So each of all these activities had a major impact on the security architecture of the state to such an extent that today, people can stay 12 midnight in their shops unmolested. People can go about their normal business activities. Not that there are no issues, but they  are not as what it used to be in the past. So my summary is that Amotekun has really justified the reason why it was established.

 Do you think the government of the day takes  security with all seriousness? Take a look at some of the skirmishes, particularly in Ose and Akoko areas. There are still complaints that some farmers are still being attacked right on their farms.

Yes,  Ose and Akoko happen to be at the receiving end, because of  the borders on entry point into the state. Because our men are really in the forests,  they cannot be everywhere, that is why you still find that. Let me take your mind back two years ago. A whole village was burnt down around Imoru-Ijagba axis. This was what prompted us to establish a control post right there in the forest. Since then till date, there has been no kidnap issue reported in Imoru-Ijagba axis again. This is what the government is trying to do by establishing the Amotekun rangers. The Amotekun rangers are supposed to take care of activities at  the  borders  and all areas that are prone to attacks of herdsmen.

The  kidnappers  now look for a place where within a few minutes they can operate and rush out of the state. That’s why they operate at the borders, knowing fully well that if they come inside, they will be arrested. You look at the notorious Elegbeka axis. The government has graciously approved that a control post be put there. And we are working assiduously to ensure that a full-blown control post is put there. The same thing happens around Akunnu-Kaba axis.

During your second tenure, we want to know what  you want to do differently. What are your plans? You are fighting an unconventional security situation. We realize that you have limitations in terms of the arms your men bear.

Some of them are conventional. That’s why Amotekun equally adopts both conventional and unconventional methods. When you give me a stick and say I should go and confront somebody with AK 47. We are already in it. And we’ve gone this far by adopting both conventional and unconventional ways of combating crime in the state. By and large, while we are pleading with the relevant authorities to give us access to those kinds of automatic weapons that criminals freely use, we still make do with what we have. The law establishing the Corps allows us to use certain weapons that are not automatic, solid-bullet rifles. Again, on equipment, each time kidnap issues are reported, most times we rely on the expertise of the  security agency like the Directorate of State Security Services for tracking and so on.

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So we want a situation where we’re equally able to track directly and move faster. We give them a lot of kudos, especially the DSS, for what they do to assist the corps. Almost in all cases, even up to last week when we had issues in the Ipogun area at  midnight, I had to wake up the Director of SSS, who graciously obliged, and his men gave us the necessary support that enabled us to put subtle pressure on the localized area that was pinpointed, which led to the quick release of the victim. This is a typical example of the collaboration we have with other security agencies.

 When you take a look at your operations, there must be challenges. To what extent do you think the government has lived up to expectations in solving some of these challenges?

 Well,  I think substantially they have been able to give us enough backing for us to go ahead.

 How would you rate the security situation in Ondo State compared to some other states?

 Ondo State is safe haven. Averagely in the southwest, without fear I can say with both sides of the mouth that Ondo State is relatively safer. And we are determined in collaboration with all other security agencies to continue to sustain this situation.

Well, let’s come to your men.  I don’t know if  issues of bribery  happens, but it’s not open to the public that your men take bribes. How have you been able to achieve this?

 Well, I must put this on record that if things were normal, there would be no Amotekun. One of our primary objectives is to complement the efforts of other security agencies. And you know that one of the banes ravaging the country, not security agencies alone, is corruption. So we brought in the ethics of Iwa omoluabi. So this (Iwa Omoluabi) forbids taking of bribe. And of course, if any one of them is caught taking bribe, they know the consequences are grievous. The punishments are heavy. So I think these are some  of those things that militate against their taking bribes.

 Sir, we are approaching the governorship election. We want to know the role your agency will play, and how prepared are you?

 Well, the agency is fully prepared. And you will recall, since the establishment of Amotekun, this will be the third of such elections coming up. And Amotekun has not been accused of  bias. So, our role will be neutrality and fairness to all. And in the November poll,  Amotekun doesn’t have any business coming to  where they are voting. All other security agencies of the government are involved directly. Amotekun operates in the background. And because of the mass movement of security men from other agencies for  election duty, we take over where there will be lapses.

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To an extent that all the policemen, all the Civil Defence men,  and  soldiers have gone to ensure safety of election materials we make  sure that the houses, the homes, the offices are not left for robbers  to have a field day. Again, we ensure that our routes and roads are safe. And we ensure that the communities   are equally safe. So these are the primary roles, in addition to what the government wants us to do  during election.

When you take a look at some other  states, we know the security situation, what actually makes Ondo Amotekun stands out? 

     I put it as the grace of God. Without God, we can’t do anything. Then, input of men and support of people. That’s it.

     Let’s take a look at your activities, your office built specialized court, to try suspects, can we have a summary or an idea of the number prosecuted or convicted so far?

      In security, we  hide what you want. but we must meet in the middle.

At a point in time, the turnout of criminals that we arrested became unbearable for the conventional courts alone because of the facilities they have. So we looked in  and within what we had , we approached the judiciary. And the CJ at that time graciously allowed us to put in place what is now called the Amotekun Courts. And he equally gave us officials  to such an extent that we can  within a reasonable time dispense the cases.

And I want to say that it really helped in decongesting our facility here, and it has equally helped in sanitizing the entire process from arrest, investigation, to prosecution. And consequently, they go to correctional centers for their release. 

 How has the government been able to assist the Corps in the past five or four years?

 Like I said earlier, the government has placed a lot of premium on the security of lives and property of the  people of Ondo state. And one of the major points that the government of the day places premium on  lives and property is to attract investors. And of course, good security is one of those things that make the state investor-friendly. So you can see a lot of developments coming in the last few months as a result of the very stable and steady security situation. So I think substantially, the government has done well .

 Were there  infractions among your  officers? How are they being dealt with?

Well, out of every 12 of the disciples, there is always a Judas. So we have a disciplinary committee, and a couple of months ago, five of our men were dismissed for professional misconducts. Having gone through the normal trial, we tarry a bit in losing them, but when it becomes necessary, we don’t spare them at all. As we say zero tolerance to criminal activities, we equally say zero tolerance to corruption and indiscipline

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