AMOTEKUN: A Means To End Insecurity In The Southwest?

The Nigerian federation has always been bedevilled by various security challenges, with each region of the country having its own peculiar predicament. 

In the Northeast, it is insurgency perpetrated by ISWAP and Boko Haram.

In the Northwest, it's the threat posed by bandits and the activities of illegal miners. In the North Central, it's the menace of the conflict between herders and local farmers, and also activities of cattle rustlers. In the South-South(Niger Delta) militancy and cultism is still reportedly an unending challenge. In the Southwest and Southeast, the two share similarities as regards kidnapping and armed robbery attacks, atleast based on the reported cases and developments.

 This is not to say this activities don't cross borders, rather it's just due to their prevalence in one region more than the others.

The South-Western Governors took a well-meaning step to curtail rising criminal activities in the Southwest through the launch of the “Operation Amotekun".

Since it's launch, the initiative has drawn various reactions and developments.

This, i believe, will go a long way in reducing the scourge of kidnapping and other criminal activities that has held the region by the jugular.

Although many organizations have supported this move, some others are raising suspicions.

The position taken by the North-western Governors to replicate this initiative in their region is highly commendable. If there is the political will to push ahead with this and back it up with appropriate legislation, it will be beneficial to all. The benefits of such an outfit cannot be overstated, take a closer look at the efforts of the Civilian JTF in collaboration with the military in the Northeast. However, there are certain challenges facing the success of such an operation in the region.

The most primal of it all being funding. "Amotekun" in the Southwest is being funded exclusively by the states in the region. With the inadequate funds going to the region as a whole from the federation account, it poses a big challenge to running such a security outfit. Over time, with the propensities of Northern governors in this country, there might be  push for the integration of the personnel into the conventional police organisation which will in turn burden the Federal Government with more budget spending.

Considering the stiff opposition the whole idea of restructuring has been met with in the North, it begs the question, will such a security outfit stand the test of time?

Nevertheless, I am of the opinion that the security of lives and property of every Nigerian is a collaborative effort between the stakeholders involved; Government and the people. A proposal like this should be sustained and executed not just in the Northwest, but replicated in all the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.