Southwest governors expected to increase funding for Amotekun at today's Ibadan meeting

GOVERNORS of Nigeria's six states that make up the southwest geo-political zone are expected to come up with a new security initiative this week in response to the growing insecurity that is ravaging the country.

Earlier today, the governors met in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to discuss the current spate of kidnapping taking place across Nigeria. Over the last week, a lot has happened as on November 21, armed bandits stormed St Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State and abducted 303 students and 12 teachers and before that armed men attacked Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State and abducted at least 25 students.

During the brutal Kebbi attack, the gunmen killed vice principal, Mallam Hassan Makuku, before seizing the students from their hostel. Their assault was then followed by an attack on worshippers at the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State.

So bad has the security situation been that President Bola Tinubu had to abandon a planned trip to the G20 summit in South Africa to address the issue, given the anxiety among the families of the abducted victims. It is now believed that the South West Governors Forum is going to debate expanding the role of Amotekun, the regional security outfit they created in 2020, to deal with the matter.

In response to the actions of heavily-armed Fulani herdsmen who engage in kidnapping, armed robbery and banditry, the governors decided to launch a regional security outfit named Amotekun, which translates to leopard in the local Yoruba language. With insecurity now on the rise again, it is expected that they will increase funding for Amotekun and equip it with vehicles to enable the outfit police the geo-political zone properly.

Today's meeting was attended by governors Seyi Makinde, Dapo Abiodun, Babajide Sanwooolu, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Biodun Oyebanji, of Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Ondo and Ekiti states respectively. Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State was not there in person but was represented by his deputy, Kola Adeusi.

Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Governor Makinde's spokesman, said: “The meeting has started. All the governors are present except Governor Adeleke who was represented by his deputy.”

Under the original plans drawn up, the governments of the six states were to train vigilantes, hunters and members of the Oodua People's Congress to provide security to provide intelligence for the official security services like the police, military and civil defence corps. In bills establishing Amotekun that were passed by the six state houses of assembly, its operatives will have to apply to the inspector-general of police for gun permits before they are allowed to bear arms.