Oyo State Amotekun And The Lasting Solution -By Segun Adebowale

It interests me to write as an investigative journalist and also as a Security Consultant in response to a report on Olubadan coronation written by Lati Abayomi published in Oyo affair on 12th of March, 2022. Lati in his write up raised some issue which I can say is totally not in-line with the Olubadan coronation as the article was titled and the issues discussed in the article only two points out of four points raised can be said to be tentatively true in Oyo state Amotekun. Then I will not say it is a lie but referred to the write up as media propaganda in which Lati Abayomi reporting irrelevant points to Olubadan coronation whereas some of the points make available to Lati Abayomi on Oyo affair are far from what is happening in Oyo State Amotekun corps. I wouldn’t know how much you were paid but let work together in creation of unbeatable legacy in Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) so as not to regret our actions and inaction when that power is taken away when time comes. We should not because of what we are now getting jeopardize our future, the future of coming and unborn generation. All facts to discuss are based on discreet investigation and information gotten from fifteen (15) selected Amotekun corps from selected Local Governments in the Oyo State.

In the first instance, the article addressed the literate level of Amotekun corps officers as against the public claims that Oyo State Amotekun corps is illiterate. This issue of illiterate is no more a news in Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) but what I can describe as public misconception because have heard positive confession from several people in the community and outside confessing that ‘so there are educated people among Oyo State Amotekun but why are the office been headed by illiterate? And why at time their response to issue is always crude? These and other questions are beyond ones understanding. Therefore Oyo State citizens should know henceforth that there are Amotekun operatives that went to tertiary institutions among Oyo States Amotekun corps. Then public should let know that there are literates and illiterates among Oyo State Amotekun Corps, who are complementing each other efforts, which shows to some extent that the Oyo State Government balanced the equation of recruitment, no partiality in the recruitment process but not yet done with the issue of leadership in Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) where illiterate is being used to governs the activities of the Oyo State Amotekun Corps.

Another point raised by the writer is the salary of forty Five thousand naira (N45000.00) being paid to each operative by the Oyo State Government. Indeed, if nobody else did, many concerned Oyo State citizens appreciate the Oyo State Government for this salary with the number of Oyo State Amotekun corps in the State. But it is of no need for the writer to disclose this issue for public to know because whenever discussion on salary of workers arises between the Government and the workers you can only hear them talking about minimum wage of Thirty thousand naira,(N30,000) only, the actual amount for workers above minimum wage will be personal issue with the paper work of Government arm in-charge of workers’ salary. Beside did new Olubadan and his Council demanded for Oyo State Amotekun Corps salary for the writer to make it (salary) part of report on Olubadan coronation of Friday 11th March, 2022?

Likewise, the recruitment process since 2020 is true. But are all these point part of Olubadan coronation of 2022 almost two years after? Then the contradiction on this issue of salary is that the writer makes us to understand that “no Oyo State Amotekun Operatives is earning less than Forty five thousand naira (N45 000)” which confirm that all Oyo State Amotekun corps is on the same Salary scheme. Is this system of salary payment conforming to the system of Professional Security bodies employed during recruitment? Or is this system of flat Salary scheme part of the recommendations of the professional Security bodies used during recruitment? Or where on earth at this 21st century do we have people who hold SSCE certificate, NCE, ND, HND, Degree Certificate being paid the same amount of Salary? As you have rightly mentioned in your article that the holders of above Certificate are in Oyo State Amotekun Corps, the Agency should follow the Standard Structure of any of the professional bodies used for recruitment in making Oyo State Security Network (Amotekun) a model to cherish and emulate.

Despite the facts that those points raised remained irrelevant to Olubadan coronation, I will like to call your attention to the lies and propaganda in the article published by Lati Abayomi of Oyo affairs on the 11th March, 2022.
The first contradiction in Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) is Standard procedure acclaimed to be followed in 2020 during recruitment process. The writer made the readers to understand that the State Security Services (SSS), Nigerian Immigration Services, Civil Defense, Nigerian Correctional Facilities Service and other professional Security bodies were involved in standardization of Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) Recruitment process. The question I would like the writer to ask the Agency to respond to and still published is that; how conformity is Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) is working toward the attainment of Standard Structure of the professional Security Bodies employed for recruitment of Amotekun Corps in 2020? Did all these professional security body used give any recommendation then as per present and future development of Oyo State Amotekun Corps? If yes, did the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) follow the recommendation? Because if really Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) would be honored, respect and relevant, its structure should relate and emulate either that of Police, Civil Defense, Immigration and any other professional Security of 21st Century.

The writer also put emphasis on continuous training of Oyo State Amotekun Corps. It was investigated and confirmed that the only training received by Oyo State Amotekun corps was the recruitment training which was held in Oyo town at Emmanuel Alayande Colege of Education from November 3rd to 18th, 2020, which is amounted to three weeks training compare to the training duration of professional Security bodies involved in Recruitment process. No training for Amotekun operatives on how to treat any suspect that want to resist arrest, No training for Oyo State Amotekun corps on how not to intrude or violet the public human right, No training for Oyo State Amotekun on how to respect rule of law and other training that can bring about professionalism in discharging and performing their duties for glory of God and service to humanity which in returns brings glory and dignity to the Oyo State Government.

The report on Olubadan Coronation also talked on farmers/herders clash. The farmers are still recording the serious damage on the farm produce by the herders. Only peoples that can talk extensively on this point are citizens / farmers residing in agriculture area of the State that can accurately says if the herders are still troubling the farmers, which according to my investigation herder invasion on farm land is still happening, even that’s the major incidence that Amotekun corps officers in Ogbomoso, oke ogun and Ibarapa axes are attending to almost on daily basis.
May I let you know that what happened in igangan early 2021, is that Igangan people have fed-up with continuous invasion on their farm land by Cows. The Oyo State farmers and Oyo State Amotekun offices are just managing the situation; the only and last solution to this perpetual invasion of farm land by herders is that Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) should remind the Oyo State Government on the Anti-open grazing law enacted early year 2020. And also more findings can be gotten from all Oyo State Local Government where Agriculture is predominantly the dwellers occupation. This is matter of importance because food security is very essential in securing lives and properties of Oyo State citizens. Or even the Oyo State House of Assembly can mandate the Agriculture department at Local Government in conducting public hearing with farmers at each Oyo state Local Government where Agriculture is being practice to respond to how reduced herders invasion on the farm land has relatively controlled. And this public hearing would enables Oyo State Government in getting more facts on how to help farmers so as to make food available for good people of Oyo State.

I can read from the article published through the Oyo affairs that Oyo state Amotekun corps is make up of two operatives namely white belts and black belts Operatives. Are these two operatives cut across the 33 Local Governments in Oyo State? Because the ten Local Governments randomly contacted on my investigation regards these white and black belts operatives denies having such an operative. Even an Amotekun corps operative contacted in one of Local Governments in Ibadan complicated the issue that black and white belts is just a ceremonial dress in military another one said is a department. But the fact is that the two operatives as claimed by Olubadan coronation reporter do not exist in Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun). May I let you and the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) know some questions that these two categories of operatives (white and black belt) is generating among the Oyo State Amotekun corps; Who and who are the White belts operatives and who and who are black belts operatives? Who is senior and who is junior among the two operatives mentioned? Some are even the thinking that those that can read and write are White belts operatives whereas those that cannot read nor write are black belts operatives. Some are saying it could be the coordinators, the Admin officer, the LG 2ic and the operation officer and (or) IPOs.

Likewise, the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) Organizational Structure was reported as part of Olubadan coronation. Can Oyo State Security Network Agency and the Amotekun Board prove to the general public if there is Organizational Structure in the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) because with my findings and observation all of Oyo State Amotekun Corps has no signal(s) on their uniforms to distinguish superior to subordinate Amotekun corps. Perhaps you can study the attached NPF Security Organizational Structure and compare to the existing one in Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun).

And if not conversant with the attached NPF sample of Organizational Structure, as a reporter you can consult Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA) office to get one. Likewise OYRTMA rank and file can be consulted if can be replicated into Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun)
In conclusion, I respond to Olubadan’s coronation report by Lati Abayomi so as to suggest to Oyo State Government that the Law Established Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) should be put to use and follow page by page so as to successfully and adequately actualize the good dreams of Oyo State Government lead by His Excellency Engineer Seyi Makinde, the Chief Security of the State, in securing lives and properties of the citizens. As the provision of the Law by the Oyo State House of Assembly and other steps taking by Oyo State Government can make Oyo State a more safer and attractive State for Local and foreign investors.

Likewise to present to the State Government what considered lasting and workable solution to assist the Amotekun Board of Governor, the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) in adequately secured lives and properties of its citizens.

Note: Please all points discussed above could be investigated for proper planning in Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun).
The proposed Organizational Chart is extracted and established by Law established Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) Section 17 (interpretation) Section 4 (departments of the agency) year 2020.
And the Police Organizational Structure and hierarchy are also attached as sampling of my research work.
Examine the prototypes attached, if can be adopted to make Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) one of its kind in the South West region.
Also ready to offer free Security Consultant Services if needed by Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun)

Email: segunade951@gmail.com