The Governors of the six Southwestern States of Nigeria namely; Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo met in June 2019 in Abuja to discuss the pivotal issues of insecurity and collective economic development in the Region, hence, the creation of Western Nigeria Security Task Force code-named ‘Amotekun’. A dream set for realization on January 9, 2020.
Background
As a region with vastly improving socio-economic climate, the reign of peace in western Nigeria is non-negotiable. The security imperatives of the Southwest Region are urgent in view of present and imminent challenges. The requirement of a preventive, protective and proactive Regional security regime that includes all stakeholders to protect and safeguard lives, properties and economic activities is of high priority.
Section 14 (2) of the Nigerian Constitution clearly states that, “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” The economic prosperity of any nation largely depends on its security structure, ease of doing business and healthy bilateral relations with foreign countries. Southwestern Nigeria is an integral part of Nigeria’s economy, therefore, the need to consider strict security measures to curtail crimes and other vices.
Specifically, some of the major threats to the peace of the region include; Highway robbery incidents, assassination of high-profiled individuals (In Ekiti, the killing of Pa Ilori, and Mrs. Olakunrin in Ondo State), Banditry, communal clashes over land disputes, kidnapping, amongst other cases. These incidents slow-paced the economic development of the region while diminishing the growing list of foreign investors as well.
Prior to the Creation of ‘Amotekun’; the Stakeholders’ Security Summit
In the wake of the aforementioned, the Development of Western Nigeria Commission (DAWN Commission) was formed to address relevant issues. The Commission considers the Western Nigeria Governors Forum intervention as timely to ramp up the region’s capacity for protecting its citizens.
According to the Commission, the prevention of crime and strife, and an environment conducive to development in its material, moral and social dimensions is critical to the growth and prosperity of Western Nigeria.
Collectively, the Southwestern Nigeria Governors expressed their commitment to protect and safeguard lives and property of people living in the Region. At the end of the meeting, the Governors mandated the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission to convene a stakeholders’ summit on security.
The Stakeholders’ Security Summit was hosted at the political headquarters of the Yoruba – Ibadan between June 25 to 27, 2019, to discuss security matters and proffer immediate, medium and long term actionable solutions to identified challenges.
The Summit continued with a series of technical sessions geared with mandate to develop strategies geared towards improving security of lives and properties in the Western Region. Issues identified include; loss of values, border and maritime insecurities, kidnapping, ranching, farmland encroachment, paucity of data, among others. The sessions birthed a Recommendation Framework.
Prior to the Summit, a Stakeholders’ Workshop on Security, Law and Order In Southwest Nigeria held in September 2014. In a similar fashion to the Summit, the Workshop also recommended; the urgent need for legislation to contain pastoralist encroachment; An Orientation Programme for youths in the region; A Regional Enforcement Council and Regional Security Council to ensure regional thinking in relation to the security function, and to synergize joint ownership of the apparatus of security in the region; The need for an Action Plan on security, law and order in the Southwest.
In a bid to also keep the international community abreast of the recent development, a meeting was held between stakeholders and the United States Institute of Peace. During the meeting, a presentation tagged; ‘Understanding the Informal Security Sector in Nigeria’ to further educate the Institute on the need for a regional security council.
Key issues highlighted in the report include; the types of informal security actors, the structures of these actors, their recruitment and training mechanisms, their accountability issues, their relationships with formal security actors, and perceptions of them.
Amotekun: the Birth of an Effective Security Network in Western Nigeria
In proffering lasting solutions to the security challenges in the region, recommendations were made during the summit which informed the decision of key stakeholders to form the Western Nigeria Security Task Force code-named Amotekun.
In the formation of Amotekun, explicit security measures were considered as the Task Force comprises of members of Odua People’s Congress (OPC), Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), Hunters Group of Nigeria (HGN), etc.
The Core Functions of Amotekun include;
Prohibition of Criminal Operations on Highways through Joint Highway Patrol with other security agencies, Safeguard of Forest Reserves, Trans border Security, Strengthen Local Security and Intelligence Architecture; Establish an integrated Emergency Communication Center (ECC) and adopt functional 3-digit emergency codes(s); Establishment of a Fusion Center for intelligence gathering, analysis and dissemination; Introduce Toll Free Lines to report cases of insecurity; Registration for all Okada Riders in States across the region; Securing Porous Land and Coastal Boundaries; Address Systemic loss of Values and Cultural Heritage; Create Integrated Regional Identity Management System; Activate Dormant Laws and Regulations; Data in the Region; Ensure Sustainable Funding for Security; and make available Ranching Facilities for the Yoruba people.
Conclusion
The need for a Regional Security system cannot be overemphasized. In point of fact, regional unity was said to be crucial to the attainment of any of the resolutions reached in regard to the provision of security in the Southwest. The end goal is to ensure a safe region for economic prosperity for citizens, investors and governments alike.