In this piece, SEGUN ODUNAYO writes about how Amotekun, South-West regional security outfit, is combating killer herdsmen and bandits in Ondo State
Oba Israel Adeusi woke up on November 26, 2020, in high spirits and left Ifon for Akure for a periodic meeting of traditional rulers with the governor of the state. After the meeting, he, alongside his team, went to buy tiles to lay at his mother’s grave back home in Ifon. Upon making payment, Gbenga Arogbo, the personal assistant to King Adeusi was to come back to Akure from Ifon the following morning to pick the tiles so that the grave of the king’s mother could be beautified. Little did the king, his assistant or anyone else on his team know that a major incident was going to happen later in the day that would change the lives of everyone on that journey forever.
“It was a black Thursday for us that day. After the monthly meeting with the governor, we were going back home. We had just gone to make payment for tiles that he (the king) wanted to use to beautify his mother’s grave and we set for home in Ifon. When we got to Elegbeka, we encountered some men who were strategically positioned on a failed portion of the road and there was no way we could maneuver to escape.
“Suddenly, they started shooting at us. We noticed some men behind us at the same time and so it was impossible to get out of the situation. We assumed they were kidnappers and my king had always warned us not to run should we find ourselves in such a situation. However, when the gunshots became really heavy, the king called out to Suuru (the driver) to reverse. In our quest to escape, we drove past one group but we could not beat the other group because of the failed portion of the road.
“The king was really hurt and we rushed him to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo but the doctors said he was brought in dead,” Gbenga narrated to The PUNCH.
Speaking with our correspondent, the personal assistant to the late monarch said no other person was shot except the king.
He said, “I have only seen such a scenario in movies. I couldn’t believe it. They kept shooting and even though I couldn’t exactly count, they must have shot about 50 times. The King was the only one that was shot during the attack. To date, the failed portion of that road is still there; it has not been fixed.”
The deadly attack was linked to bandits, who had held the country by the jugular. The menace of banditry, which started in the northern part of the country, had festered and had found its way down to the South-West adjudged as the safest region of the country – the North was contending with terrorism and banditry, while the South-East was in a state of unrest over the secession agitation spearheaded by the separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra.
By killing a king, the criminals demonstrated their determination to test all boundaries.
On June 5, 2022, these bandits sent shockwaves across the nation, when they launched a deadly attack on the St. Francis Catholic Church. At the tail end of the Sunday service, they threw explosives into the church, killing no fewer than 41 congregants. Over 69 worshippers sustained varying degrees of injury.
“We were about to round off service. I had even asked people to start leaving, that was how we started hearing gunshots from different angles.
“We hid inside the church but some people had left when the attack happened. We locked ourselves in the church for 20 minutes. When we heard that they had left, we opened the church and rushed victims to the hospital,” a cleric, Rev. Abayomi, narrated to the media.
Early in July 2019, these daredevil criminals had taken the life of Mrs Funke Olakunrin, the daughter of Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.
Olakunrin was on a journey with others in her vehicle when they were waylaid by bandits around Kajola along the Ondo-Ore Road. She was shot dead.
By their operations, the bandits left a litany of woes, including killings and kidnappings for ransom.
Farmers’ ordeal
While travellers have been attacked, killed and kidnapped, the farmers and their farmlands too weren’t been spared. From tales of being killed on their farms to escaping with injuries and destruction of farmlands, the farmers have had a bitter taste of the precarious security situation of the state.
Femi Adeyele, a farmer with 50 hectares of farmland in Igbara Oke, Ifedore Local Government Area, captured the prevailing situation in an interview with our correspondent.
Adeyele, who was still nursing the injuries he sustained from an attack by herdsmen when he met with our correspondent, narrated: “I met them (herdsmen) on my 50 hectares farm that had cassava planted on it. I was somewhere watching and I saw as they uprooted my cassava to feed their cows. This angered me and I came out of where I was and ordered them to leave my farm but instead, it seemed like they spoke some language to their cows and they surrounded me. As I tried to run, I put the phone to my ears feigning a call to Amotekun for help but they struck me with cutlass and I began to bleed.”
Another farmer, Yele Adaranijo, said the herdsmen usually lay ambush for farmers before they strike.
“They came to my farm and destroyed the corn we planted. They tried attacking my farmer colleagues and me but we begged them not to hurt us. We also begged them not to destroy our crops because that was our only means of livelihood. They’re always threatening us here; we are tired of this whole thing,” he said.
For farmers around Owo and Ifon local governments, the story is worse. A farmer, who didn’t want his name in print, said the herdsmen attack them often.
He said, “We’re the most affected here; our crops get eaten very often and there’s nothing we can do. We went to the king to cry for help but he is helpless. It’s a sad situation for us farmers.”
Scary statistics
Research has shown that over 4,000 farmers have been killed in the southwestern part of Nigeria from 2015 to date. According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, Nigeria has lost not less than 8,343 persons to the conflict since 2005.
The Ondo State Farmers Association also said over 30 farmers have been killed by herdsmen. According to the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security, “Drought and desertification in the North have forced pastoralists to seek grazing lands further South resulting in competition over resources and clashes.”
“This results in significant loss of lives and livelihoods, undermine food security, permit the proliferation of small arms, displace large numbers of people, and divert resources meant for development. Vulnerable groups, such as women, children and youth, IDPs, and indigenous people, are particularly impacted,” the report stated.
But amid these steady killings, arrest and prosecution of the criminals were non-existent or few and far between. This led to the agitation for the creation of state police at different levels. However, the Federal Government insisted state police was not the solution.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari, who was in power, argued that it would be counterproductive for states, who have financial challenges, to form state police, equip cops with guns and then be unable to pay the policemen.
With the President adamant, states decided to take their destinies in their own hands.
Formation of Amotekun
Towards the end of 2019, governors in the six South-West states agreed to establish the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun due to the rising insecurity challenges surmounting the axis. And in a meeting with ranking traditional rulers on January 9, 2020, the security outfit was formed.
But the Federal Government described the move unconstitutional. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice at the time, Abubakar Malami, made comments that triggered lots of controversy regarding the outfit. In the end, the governors were called to a meeting in Abuja and approval was given by the Federal Government.
Each of the states’ Houses of Assembly passed separate bills to give the necessary legal backing to Amotekun.
In the last three years of operation, Ondo Amotekun has been one of the most active, arresting kidnappers, freeing the kidnapped and bursting crime syndicates in the state.
Ondo Amotekun
Seven months after the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun was formed, Ondo State became the first to launch it in August 2020.
A retired Deputy Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, was appointed the Commander of the security outfit.
Recruitment began with the hiring of local hunters and vigilante members. Over time, the recruitment process have been fierce and rigid allowing for only the strong and committed to get the job. For example, about 16,000 persons applied to join the Amotekun Corps in July 2022 but only 900 persons found physically fit via military and health tests were allowed to move to the next stage before 400 of that number were found fit enough to be employed.
The Ondo Amotekun exists in every local government in the state and they reach out to their men in different locations when chasing or tracking erring herdsmen or criminals disturbing the peace of the state.
A day with Amotekun
For several months, this reporter sought approval from the leadership of Ondo Amotekun to go with them on one of their operations to no avail. The leadership always thought the journey was too dangerous for hands untrained in the ways of battle. However, one day, they gave in to the request and allowed for the first time a journalist to go on such a mission.
The Ondo Amotekun Commmander, Adetunji Adeleye, explained that his team received intelligence information that some herdsmen were destroying the farms in a part of the state which he didn’t mention and since their usual practice was to use this as kidnapping decoy, it was important they moved quickly to apprehend them.
And so it began, the mission was set and the men got ready. The Amotekun officers provided this reporter and colleague with bulletproof vests and even some traditional substance to serve as protection on the journey.
“Please swallow this, you’d need it for fortification as we don’t know what we’d encounter on the journey,” a member of the corps, who was getting the team ready. said to this reporter.
Around 8:10 am, the team set out in a convoy of about five vans looking ready for battle. Each man had a gun, pair of gloves and uniform. Some had headgears, others didn’t. Each van had about six men in it. After driving for about 40 minutes, we had arrived in a really dangerous and lonely forest. The men got down from their vehicles and held a prayer session for about 15 minutes. They prayed both in the Christian and traditional ways. According to them, they prayed in line with the religion of their men on the operation. After the prayers, the operation lead divided his men into groups. He instructed his men not to make use of their weapons except they got fired at first. Their mission was to capture the herdsmen alive.
As we went further into the forest, we could hear the voices of the herdsmen and their cows but as we tried to get to where they were, they seemed to always get ahead. We got to where they camped and saw their makeshift beds, radio sets, footwear, clothes and food. Their mini camp looked like the occupants just left not long ago and this further energised the Amotekun men to chase further into the forest. As we maneuvered through the forest, farms and hills, we saw a large group of cows numbering about 200 but no herder was in sight. Some officers thought it wise to arrest some of the cows as this would force the herders to come out of hiding but the commanding officer made it clear that the instruction from their boss was to capture the herdsmen alive.
‘What voices are those?’
While the search continued, the Amotekun officers came across another cattle group numbering about 300 but still didn’t find any accompanying herdsman. They thought it was impossible for cows to just be wandering in the forest alone and kept hope alive. After about 40 minutes, they found another makeshift camp with food and clothes. These once again proved that there were humans in that area. After some time, one of the men advised that the team stationed around where the cows were and so a team went that way. Soon, the cows were running in the direction of where some voices were calling out from. Quickly, the Amotekun men moved in that direction and ran towards where the voices came from but didn’t find anyone. Later, the Commander of Amotekun in the state joined the operation and led another team to wait outside the forest to serve as ambush should the herdsmen decide to flee the area.
Despite the constant change in tactics, it didn’t look like the security outfit was any close to arresting any herdsmen. The cows kept exploring further into the forest and they ate crops on farms found along the way as they were led by invincible herders. At another settlement, sticks looking like those that belonged to herdsmen were found as well as two motorcycles. It was assumed that they were used for transportation into town for running errands. After some time, we came across a running stream and the men helped themselves with water as the journey was tiring and stressful.
‘Today isn’t our day’
After several hours of hunting, the men decided the search party be called off. They had found materials suspected to belong to the herdsmen but not the men themselves. The Amotekun Commander called on his men to abandon the search and continue anothe time. The men were already tired and weary and so the announcement was met with cheers. When the reporter asked how long it would take to get out of the forest to where the vehicles were packed, the men said it could take about three hours. It was then this reporter knew they had gone deep into the forest. Hours after, the team got back to Akure and the Amotekun Commander, Adetunji Adeleye explained that his men usually went on such operations with collaborative efforts of the Army, Police NSCDC as the case may be but that this was strictly an Amotekun issue and that was what necessitated their going alone. He also explained how his men had been arresting suspected herdsmen, kidnappers and handing them over to the police. ‘Last week, we arrested a batch of kidnappers and paraded them here in our office. We keep digging and the people help us as well,’ he stated.
What keeps Amotekun men going?
Many of the rank and file didn’t want to be named but they spoke off record. An officer who wanted to be recognised as Tee said they get treated well financially plus they have weapons to work as well.
“The least person here gets paid 50,000 and that is good. Also, we have most of the equipment we need. We have vehicles for operations, we have bulletproof vests and headgear too. We have uniforms and we’re well taken care of,” he stated.
Another officer who also didn’t want to be named hailed the leadership of the security outfit for a job well done. “Our bosses take care of us; there’s nothing we don’t get, especially as it concerns work. The leadership promotes deserving officers and this makes everyone work harder so as to get rewarded as well. And we get paid too, they take us seriously,” he said.
Challenges faced by Amotekun
Although, the men of the Amotekun security corps didn’t say much about the challenges faced, residents gave their views about some of the problems the security network encountered in the cause of duty.
A man who simply gave his name as Joe and a graduate of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko said Amotekun is powerless in certain parts of the state and his parents had to abandon their home because of the security crisis in their area.
“Which Amotekun? Bandits are killing people in Ose LG every day. Ifon, Okeluse, Molege, Arimogijaa communities are no go areas till today. We even heard Amotekun were told to stop fighting the bandits when they lost like 5 of their officers in that environment. My parents had to leave the house to go and stay with my brother who lives in Ondo town,” he said.
Another resident who gave her name as Tinu said she stays in Akoko but visits Ifon often and that it is always a scary journey to embark on.
“I live after Arigidi Akoko but I often commute on the road that leads to Ifon. I have a friend I visit regularly. That road is now lonely, Amotekun men have practically been overpowered in that place because it’s like the epicenter of herdsmen. They sacked an entire community,” she said.
A monarch who didn’t want his name in print said he had to get extra local security to support the Amotekun but that they’re struggling to keep them away.
“It has been a struggle for us to secure our people. Amotekun people are trying and I even had to get our hunters to serve as local security but it’s not enough. We don’t ply the route (leading to the village) once it is getting dark,” he stated.
Extrajudicial killings
In July 2022, business and commercial activities were paralysed in both Owo town and Akure, when students of the state-owned Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, protested the death of one of their colleagues, allegedly killed by a personnel of Amotekun.
Folarera Ademola, the victim was a first-year student of Science and Laboratory Technology.
Speaking with newsmen, the Students’ Union President, Olorunda Oluwafemi, said the boy was shot on June 27 by an officer of the Amotekun in front of his parents’ house and that he died at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, where he was rushed for treatment.
The Ondo Amotekun Commander, Adetunji Adeleye, in a statement released to pressmen, said the incident happened while his men were after a syndicate that specialises in dispossessing Okada riders of them of their motorcycles.
“In an attempt to apprehend the suspects, they swooped on men of the corps, trying to disarm them and in the course of the struggle, one of their riffles triggered off and hit one of the suspects and an Amotekun officer.
“At that instance, none of them told Amotekun officers that they were students.”
‘Amotekun has done well’
Jackson Lekan Ojo, a certified golden member of the International Security Association, Switzerland believes Amotekun complements the efforts of the existing security apparatus in the state.
“People thought Amotekun was going to be working in opposition to the police but we’ve discovered that these people are working to complement the work of the police because they’ve been providing information and intelligence to security officials.
“They’re closer to the people and so they can gather information and send it for analyses and necessary arrest. So far, so good, they’re complementing the efforts of the police,” he said.
When asked if he felt there was a need for other regional and state-owned security outfits, he explained that the idea behind the formation was germane to the success of such organisation.
“The management of such an outfit is important. When Amotekun started, some people revolted but we’ve seen that there is no political consideration to it. It’s not like they’re employing party members that would make opposition parties speak and this would sabotage their efforts.
“If they can manage it well, especially as it concerns recruitment, they won’t be used as political thugs rather they’d do what they’re supposed to do. It would be better if we have such outfit across the geopolitical zones in this country but management is important,” he stated.
Kabiru Adamu, founder of an indigenous platform tracking insecurity in Nigeria, explained that there are wider security gaps outside of urban cities in Nigeria and that it can be important for agencies like Amotekun to exist if they’re well articulated.
“If such organisations (like Amotekun) are well articulated and aren’t existing against the laws guiding the country, it should be welcomed. However, many of such organizations have faulty conceptualisations in Nigeria and this is sad. Some of them aren’t properly trained and they don’t abide by the laws of the land and best practices accepted across the world,” he stated.
According to the United Nations, in a report titled ‘Integrated Approach to Building Peace in Nigeria’s Farmer-Herder Crisis,’ released in 2022, the role of community leaders as agents of peacebuilding between conflicting groups was huge.
“This role needs to be strengthened for social cohesion through enabling legislations by state government.
“Government should continue to engage more with the respective stakeholders in the crisis; like the farmers and herders’ leadership,” the report said.
Dr Dauda Busari, a Sociology lecturer and researcher at the University of Ibadan, explained that sensitisation of the herdsmen was the solution.
“They need to be sensitised so as to see the evil their trade portend for the mental health of the owners of the farms whose lands are destroyed as a result of their activities,” he noted.