Members of Courses 18, 19, 20 Policemen forced out of office have dragged the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Police Service Commission, PSC, and Force Secretary before the National Industrial Court demanding enforcement of its earlier unappealed decision.
The suit filed by Edwin Okoro, has ACP Chinedu Emengaha and seven others as claimants, with the PSC, IGP and Force Secretary, Nigeria Police as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants.
In the suit, the claimants are seeking the determination of the following questions:
“Whether taking into consideration, the judgments of the National Industrial Court, Abuja, delivered by Justice O. Oyewunmi in suit Nos. NICN/Abj./345/2019-ACP Chinedu Emengaha & Ors Vs PSC & 2 Ors, and NICN/Abj./353/2019 CSP Sunday Okuguni & Ors Vs PSC & 2 Ors, resolving the issue of date of appointment of Cadet Officers (Force entrants) as the dates of their first appointment, and the said judgments having been implemented by the defendants since July 29, 2021, the defendants are not estopped from reopening the issue of date of first appointment?
“Take notice that upon the determination of the above stated question, the claimants shall pray the court for the following reliefs:
“A declaration that the date of first appointment into service of the claimants as contained in their respective appointment letters are not subject to a review by the defendants.
“A declaration that members of Cadet ASP (Force entrants) of Courses 18, 19 and 20 who are yet to serve 35 years of pensionable service nor attained the age of 60 years, are by virtue of the said jugments of the National Industrial Court delivered by Justice O. Oyewunmi in suit Nos. NICN/Abj./345/2019 – Acp Chinedu Emengaha & Ors Vs PSC & 2 Ors, And Nicn/Abj./353/2019 CSP Sunday Okuguni & Ors Vs PSC & 2 Ors, excluded from the decision of the 1st defendant at her first extraordinary meeting of the 6th management board held on January 31, 2025, approving the immediate retirement of those officers who have spent 35 years in service or above 60 years in age.
“A declaration that by virtue of the said judgments of the National Industrial Court affirming the dates of appointment of claimants as Cadet Officers as fresh appointment, the said appointment is not a merger of service.”
“A declaration that the defendant cannot by any decision, set aside the valid and subsisting judgments of the National Industrial Court, Abuja delivered by Justice O. Oyewunmi in suit Nos. Nicn/Abj./345/2019 – ACP Emengaha & Ors Vs PSC & 2 Ors, And Nicn/Abj./353/2019 CSP Okuguni & Ors Vs PSC & 2 Ors, already implemented by the defendants since July 29, 2021.
“An order setting aside the 1st defendant’s directive to the 2nd and 3rd defendants contained in the press release of January 31, 2025, as it concern Courses 18, 19 and 20 (Force entrants).
“An order of perpetual injunction, restraining the defendants jointly and severally from unlawfully and illegally reviewing the issue of dates of appointment of Cadet ASPs of Force Entrants – Courses 18, 19 and 20 already settled by the judgments of the National Industrial Court.
“An order of perpetual injunction, restraining the defendants jointly and severally from unlawfully and illegally retiring any member of Cadet ASPs of Force Entrants – Courses 18, 19 and 20, who has not attained the mandatory retirement age of 60 years,” it read.
The Police Service Commission has approved the promotion of thirty eight Assistant Commissioners of Police to the next rank of Deputy Commissioners. The Commission also elevated 100 Chief Superintendents of Police to Assistant Commissioners of Police.
The Commission took the decision Thursday, February 20th 2025 at the continuation of its extraordinary Plenary Meeting holding at its Corporate Headquarters in Jabi Abuja and presided over by Its Chairman, DIG. Hashimu Argungu rtd mni. The Meeting was also attended by Justice Adamu Paul Galmuje,.retired Justice of the Supreme Court and Honourable Commissioner representing the Judiciary; DIG Taiwo Lakanu rtd fdc, Honourable Commissioner representing the Police and Chief Onyemuchi Nnamani Secretary to the Commission.
The new Deputy Commissioners are; Emmanuel Deenom, Olufemi Takeet, yusuf Doki Sani, Joseph Habakkuk Anche, Faruku Umaru, Danladi Daura, Benedict Omotomilola Olomo, Bernard Adedayo Ojewale, Aminudeen Mohammed, Mohammed lawal Bello, and Mohammed sabo Haladu.
Others are; Baba Gana Saje, Maman Bello Tambuwal Abubakar Bello Mustapha, Haruna Adamu, Uzairu Abdullahi, Dashuwar Tepnyakas, Braide Elekima, Usman Garik, Musa Abdullahi, Kabiru Salisu, Uchenna Ani, Innocent Oguejiofor Umuerie Mathew Obiuwevbi, Gabriel Odiaka Dibie and Olufemi Olabanji Kayode, State CID, Osogbo, Osun State Command.
Ikenna Kenneth Ezeani, Force Secretary’s Office Afolaranmi Omotayo, Ibrahim Yidi, Isyaku Usman, Rasaq Abdulsalam, Olajide Agboola, Chioma Onwukaike, Abayomi Agbana, Ibrahim Miringa Musa, Umar Sokoto Abubakar, James Ekanem Usen and Dauda Buba Fika were the other Assistant Commissioners promoted to the rank of Deputy Commissioners.
Some of the Chief Superintendents of Police who were promoted to Assistant Commissioners are; Ibrahim Mohammed Agava, Akinloye Joseph Oyegade, Rilwanu Mohammed Dutse, Ibrahim Aliyu Jauro, Abdulmajid Isah, Fidelity Lohya Labong, Anthony Olusola Ojo, Ibrahim Muktar, Abdulrahaman Idris and Aminu Hamza.
Also promoted Assistant Commissioners are; Clement Ugochukwu Ezejiofor, Peter Obiyo Ihechere, Benjamin Chidozie Egbu, Joy Ugo Elemoke, Mansur Mahmud Tafida, Area Command Ido Osi, Ekiti State, Mohammed Ibrahim second in Command Zonal CID Zone 3, Yola, Jude Ohaja, State CID, Awka, and Chinyere Ajuolachi Akalaga, DPO, Lokogoma, FCT.
Godfrey Ogbeide Victor, former DPO Utako, FCT, and now Commander Scorpion Squad Abbattoir, FCT, Banawi Ishiaku, DPO Otu Jeremi, Ughelli South, Delta State, Abbas Abubakar, DPO Ikot Abasi Akwa Ibom and Celestine Tochukwu Umeh were also promoted to the next rank of Assistant Commissioners amongst others.
Chairman of the Commission, DIG Argungu said the Commission will continue to be faithful in granting deserving Police Officers their due promotion. H e however advised that they should reciprocate Commission’s faithfulness by rededicating themselves to the service of our country.
DIG Argungu said the Commission expect that the war against insurgency and banditry should be given the required attention.
As raise of dust in last week directive by the Police Service Commission, PSC, to certain category of police chiefs to proceed on compulsory retirement is yet to settle down, a security expert has described the decision as ethnic persecution while calling on President Tinubu for urgent intervention.This, as uneasy calm pervades the police force headquarters at Abuja.
In its directive two weeks ago, the PSC ordered police chiefs who have attained 60 years of age, those who have served the force for 35 years and those it says falsified their age to proceed on compulsory retirement .
However, a security expert, Prince Shadrack Adewole Ogunyemi,in urging Tinubu to look into the matter with a view to putting what is wrong and right in the retirement execise, said that a critical review of the retirement revealed that some of the affected officers were persecuted because of the section they hailed from in the country. According to Ogunyemi, the issue of “Force Entrants” with their appointment dates have been settled by Appeal Court in 2017 when PSC appealled against some police chiefs who a lower court had ruled in their favour over appointment date.
The Security Expert wondered why the PSC did not approach the courts to enable it come up with the decision it arrived at last week . This, he said has led to shock, mental torture and embarrassment to several officers and their families. ” If you look at the list of the retired officers, 90 percent of it are officers from the Southern part of our country. This policy of force entrants, i can say categorically was initiated in the late 1980s by those who had used all means to ensure that northerners dominate the force”. Ogunyemi while calling on Tinubu to intervene over the matter, urged the president to call on the case file regarding the retirement issue.
“The same PSC that issued a directive in 2017 to the then IGP on Regularisation of the Date of Entry of Officers of Force Entrants in Courses 18,19 and 20 should not, 8 years after, be singing a different song for the same officers without recourse to the courts”
” I don’t think the PSC, in taking this decision, was properly informed. To rectify this anomaly, President Tinubu, all stakeholders must review this unwholesome directive that has affected several lives negatively”
Tragedy struck in Gwargwada, Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as kidnappers reportedly executed two captives due to delays in ransom payment.
The victims, identified as Mohammed Danladi and Nasiru Yusuf, were abducted alongside a herder and a woman at Gwombe junction, along the Gwargwada-Rubochi road, on Wednesday.
According to a family member of the deceased, Shuaibu Abdullahi, the kidnappers initially demanded ₦500,000 each for their release.
However, the families were only able to raise ₦500,000 in total, leading to the tragic execution of the two men.
He said, “The kidnappers’ leader called on Friday, and the family members told them that they were only able to raise N500,000 not knowing that they had already killed two of them because the family delayed the ransom.”
He said the kidnappers, later released the herder and a woman after they collected N3 million ransom at their hideout in Kotonkarfe forest in Kogi State.
The traditional ruler of Gwargwada, Ugbada Alhaji Hussaini Agabi Mam, confirmed the incident, saying the two deceased, who were natives of Gwargwada, were abducted on their way returning from Rubochi.
He said “Unfortunately, the two young men were killed by their abductors simply because of the delay in paying the ransom they demanded.
‘’Their corpses are yet to be recovered because the victims were taken to Kotonkarfe forest in Kogi State but I learnt that the chairman of Kotonkarfe had mobilized hunters and vigilantes into the forest but they are yet to recover the two corpses.”
There was no immediate response from the FCT Police Command on the incident.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has announced a strategic partnership with the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance in the country. Speaking at a meeting with an NSITF delegation at the ICPC Headquarters on Tuesday, the Commission’s Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to tackling corruption through collaboration and public sensitization.
Dr. Aliyu emphasized the importance of synergy between both organizations, particularly in strengthening whistleblower protection mechanisms across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). He stressed the need for a confidential reporting system to encourage public participation in anti-corruption efforts. To formalize this partnership, Dr. Aliyu proposed signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would outline joint efforts to combat corruption effectively.
Echoing similar sentiments, NSITF Managing Director and Chief Executive, Mr. Faleye Oluwaseun, commended ICPC’s anti-corruption initiatives and expressed NSITF’s readiness to collaborate on policy advisory support, capacity building, and joint monitoring mechanisms. Mr. Oluwaseun further assured ICPC of NSITF’s commitment to accountability and pledged to finalize the MoU to strengthen cooperation between both institutions.
This partnership marks a significant step toward institutionalizing transparency and reinforcing good governance practices in Nigeria.
The recent violent confrontation between a young Nigerian female student Goddy-Mbakwe Chimamaka Precious and her lecturer Dr Chukwudi Okoye should give us pause. The phrase “No gree for anyone,” popularized in 2024, seems to have taken deep root in the hearts of Gen Zs, manifesting in alarming ways. The incident happened at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, where a student physically assaulted a lecturer over a TikTok video. This incident, abhorrent in its execution, demands condemnation in the strongest terms. To imagine a student lacking the character to engage in such a depraved act against a faculty member is truly disturbing.While some might argue the lecturer should not have confiscated the phone, such a debate misses the crucial point. Even if we grant that the lecturer’s action was ill-advised, an alternative resolution was undeniably available.
Resorting to physical violence, tearing down and apart another human being, represents the most barbaric approach to conflict resolution. As Nigeria grapples with this event both online and offline, fundamental questions arise: Can a lecturer at Harvard, or any reputable institution, demand to confiscate a student’s phone? Can a student casually record themselves in a hallway, potentially disrupting the academic environment? Would a student ever attempt to assault a lecturer in such a setting?Nigeria often struggles with translating its laws from paper to practice, particularly in their interpretation and execution. As many Nigerians contemplate seeking opportunities abroad, it is essential that they, whether lecturers or students, familiarize themselves with the code of conduct of their intended destination. Ignorance of these regulations can lead to disastrous consequences, potentially ruining one’s future over avoidable misunderstandings.In the specific case of the student involved in the assault, a thorough mental health evaluation seems warranted.
However, the responsibility extends beyond the individual. The university, the Federal University Commission, and all relevant stakeholders must collaborate to develop clear guidelines that define the boundaries within which students should operate. Other universities should follow suit, proactively addressing this issue before it solidifies into a destructive culture. Teachers in Nigeria are already undercompensated, a lamentable reality in itself. To subject them to humiliation and physical violence from students adds insult to injury and further undermines the integrity of the educational system.Understanding the emotional landscape of Gen Z is crucial in crafting effective and lasting solutions. According to research conducted by mediaculture.com, key psychological drivers for this generation include living an exciting life (35%), gaining recognition from peers (14%), and achieving social and professional status (12%). Since Gen Z is driven by the pursuit of adventure and the validation of their peer group, recognizing and addressing these emotional triggers is paramount to mitigating the risk of violent confrontations.
However, the core of the problem lies deeper than individual incidents or immediate triggers. Our society, inherently, excludes its young people. In Nigeria, the average age for university graduation falls between 22 and 24. Yet, it is exceedingly rare to see individuals within this age bracket participating in serious board meetings, policy formulation sessions, governance structures, or other positions of authority. When they do appear, it is often attributed to familial connections (“Godfathers”) rather than merit or demonstrable qualifications. This exclusion fosters a sense of disenfranchisement and resentment, creating fertile ground for frustration and ultimately, conflict.Until we actively integrate younger generations into the progressive society we aspire to build, this disconnect will persist. We must proactively bridge the gap by including them in decision-making processes that directly affect their lives. Their voices must be heard, their perspectives valued, and their potential harnessed.
Only then can we foster a sense of ownership, responsibility, and investment in the future of Nigeria. Ignoring this imperative will only perpetuate the cycle of conflict and prevent us from realizing the true potential of our youth. The future of Nigeria hinges on our ability to empower and include its youngest citizen.
In Nigeria, identity theft is a growing threat that affects individuals of all backgrounds, including businesses and government offices. Cybercriminals frequently steal victims’ personal information in order to commit identity theft, impersonate, and steal bank funds. The use of digital payment methods and online banking has increased Nigerians’ security concerns, yet most individuals are still unaware of how easily their personal data can end up in the wrong hands. To get personal information, cybercriminals employ a variety of strategies. Some attack databases, while others use phishing emails, phone calls, and cloned websites looking closely to the real website to fool people into disclosing private information. A cloned website usually looks like the original website but usually has a small change in the web address. Messages appearing to be from their banks have been sent to numerous people, advising them to verify their account information or risk being locked out. Others have been the targets of social media impersonation, in which scammers take over their accounts and send friends and followers a desperate need for money.
Identity theft can have a devastating effect on the victim. Victims experience financial loss, mental distress, to mention a few. A single compromised BVN or ATM card details can result in unlawful withdrawals or loans made in their name. The advent of online loan services has made it even easier for fraudsters to acquire funds using stolen identities, leaving unsuspecting victims to deal with the consequences. Despite these risks from identify theft, many Nigerians fail to protect their identities. Simple habits such as using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and avoiding clicking on suspicious links might prevent the majority of identity theft. People continue to use weak passwords, publicly reveal personal information on social media and fall victim to fraudulent activities.
Phishing attacks are one of the most popular ways that cybercriminals use to steal identities. Fraudsters send emails or SMS messages that appear to be from legitimate companies, requesting login passwords or banking information. These notifications frequently imply a sense of urgency, informing the receiver that their account will be blocked unless they take immediate action. Many innocent Nigerians fall victim to this scam, unintentionally providing these malicious actors with their personal information.
Social media has also become a means for identity theft. Many people provide too much personal information online, making it easier for malicious actors to guess security questions and impersonate them in the process. Criminals hack into accounts and use them to solicit funds from unsuspecting friends and relatives. This article aimed is to educate Nigerians about the growing threats of identity theft and how to protect themselves. Protecting personal information is no longer optional; it is required. Nigerians must take identity protection seriously and avoid revealing confidential information such as NIN, BVN, ATM PINs, ATM Card Details, Date of Birth, full name and account numbers just to mention a few. No legitimate institution will ever require these details via phone, SMS, or email. When required to enter this information on websites, ensure to double check that you are not on a cloned website. When in doubt, always check with official sources to avoid falling prey to scam.
Strong and unique passwords usually about 12 or more characters combining letters, numbers, and special characters are ideal. Using the same password for several accounts makes them more vulnerable since it makes it easier to access the others if one is compromised. By enabling a second verification step before logging in, known as two-factor authentication or multi-factor authentication, accounts have an additional layer of security. Since many identity theft cases go undetected until victims find huge withdrawals or outstanding loans in their names, it is essential to regularly monitor bank statements in order to identify unauthorized transactions early. Monitoring financial activity closely enables the reporting and blocking of suspicious transactions before they become more significant. In addition, Nigerians should also refrain from utilizing public Wi-Fi to access crucial accounts or banking since hackers can intercept unprotected connections and steal login information.
If you feel your identity has been compromised, take urgent action. Notify your bank to freeze affected accounts, reset any compromised passwords, and report the incident to the law enforcement. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operate helplines for reporting fraud related complaints. Cybercriminals are getting smarter, but Nigerians can keep up by becoming more knowledgeable as well. As Nigeria’s digital economy grows, everyone must be more aware. The responsibility for online safety does not rest only with banks or the government; it begins with you and I making informed decisions regarding the security of our personal information.
It had festered for long. The wanton trespass, the emboldened criminality, the mindless murders, the reckless disruption of the rhythm of day-to-day activities of several communities in Nigeria’s South West. Formal and informal intelligence, fingered voyaging Fulani herdsmen as prime perpetrators of the crimson regime upon the Yoruba hemisphere. The pastoralists herded their cattle from the nation’s north, down south. They fed and fattened their livestock on farmlands owned by landowners, with unbelievable impunity. Aboriginal dissenters to such roughshod rides through their sweat-grown farms, were often sent to early graves. Luckier escapees, most times left with scars to last a lifetime. To confirm that they were on a mission to destroy, maim and murder, they moved around with deadly machetes and sophisticated weapons, beyond regular arms admissible for self protection, as they rampaged through the zone.
Beyond farmlands in the recesses of the Yoruba country, kidnappers, armed robbers and killers took over and terrorised roads and expressways in the South West, with uncommon boldness. They routinely caused gridlocks on roads like the all-important Sagamu-Ore-Benin highway, in the discharge of their criminal ventures. They would move from vehicle to vehicle dispossessing commuters of their belongings and shooting at random, killing the hapless. They abducted travellers and would subsequently request for ransoms from the families of their victims. At other times, they just murdered their victims like they did to Olufunke Olakunrin, daughter of the respected Yoruba leader, Reuben Fasoranti, on the same road under reference, in June 2019. Fortuitously, her killers were found, prosecuted and sentenced to death three years later.
Governors of the South West states, unanimously afflicted by this scourge, agreed in January 2020, to establish in their various states, a security outfit to be known as Amotekun. A Yoruba word, Amotekun means “cheetah.” The animal is a member of the global “big cat” family in the animal kingdom, which are apex predators. Creatures in this bracket which include lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, are famous for stealth, speed and precision in preying on their targets. All six states in the region: Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti, signed up for this initiative, which was driven from the very top by the governors of each state. The South West states are famous for their historical collaboration on issues of the socioeconomic wellbeing of their states and people. The Amotekun concept is emplaced as a homegrown complement to the endeavours of existing intelligence and security organisations, in securing lives and property. It is not a rival, but a partner with preexisting agencies in the intelligence and security ecosystem. This typically consists of the military, the police, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) and the Department of State Services, (DSS).
Across the six South West states, Amotekun is charged primarily to protect persons, property and carry out emergency response services. The Corps systematically gathers, documents, evaluates and analyses data and information to convert to actionable intelligence for tactical, operational and strategic goals. It shares intelligence about crime in progress; suspicious activities, criminal suspects and other criminal activities. Amotekun collaborates with similar security agencies including but not limited to Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states in deterring kidnapping, terrorism, disruption of livelihood, criminal damage to property, cultism, highway robbery and other criminal activities. It ensures that all persons travelling along highways, major roads, remote areas, hinterlands and forests are free to engage in their normal activities without fear or hindrance. Amotekun also assists the police in carrying out any other lawful activity aimed at maintaining law and order within their areas of jurisdiction. The operational ambit of the Corps could indeed be broader.
Since the enthronement of Amotekun in the six core Yoruba states five years ago, the organisation has complement the enterprise of statutory security outfits in notable measure. It has foiled robberies, disrupted kidnappings, stemmed open-ended trespass and destruction of farms by marauding herdsmen, and rescued potential victims and casualties of criminal schemes. As recently as Sunday February 15, 2025, Amotekun foiled a robbery on the notorious Sagamu- Odogbolu- Ijebu Ode, on the Lagos-Sagamu-Ore-Benin expressway. One of the suspects was neutralised, while a second one was arrested during a gun duel. The suspect arrested led Amotekun operatives to the hideout of the gang, where another suspect who had earlier fled during the gun duel, took refuge. Just last week, February 10, 2025, the Ondo State Command of the Corps rescued five victims of a kidnapping episode on the ever recurring Benin- Owo road. Such is the serially documented efficacy of Amotekun in its various theatres of operation.
Worthy of note is the fact that the topmost echelons of Amotekun leadership across the South West, are very senior retired military and police officers, not below the ranks of retired Brigadier-General or Assistant Inspector General of Police, (AIG). The Oyo State outfit for instance is headed by Brigadier-General Kunle Togun, while the Ogun State formation is led by Brigadier-General Alade Adedigba. The Chairman of the Osun State variant is AIG Wale Abbas, while Brigadier-General Olu Adewa leads the Ekiti State Amotekun command. This underscores the seriousness with which the outfit is organised and deployed. Our reservoir of ex-servicemen in our communities, local hunters, vigilantes and youths can constitute the core of the operatives.
Recent criminal incidents in the the Okun country in Kogi State and Kogi West senatorial district at large, compels a proposition for the establishment of an Amotekun detachment in the zone. Like its kith and kin in core Western Nigeria, Okunland has been the butt of several violations by a broad canvas of criminals. Daredevil armed robbers have invaded Okun communities, targeting banks and murdering regular folk. Kidnappers perennially lay siege on lonely stretches of the dilapidated road networks in Okunland, killing innocents and taking hostages in kidnap- for- ransom incidents. On May 2, 2021, Solomon Adegbayo a Commissioner in the Kogi State Pensions Board was killed in the same incident in which the Chairman of Yagba West local government area at the time, Pius Kolawole, was kidnapped.
Last December, Alaba Ope, the Councillor representing Odo-Ape Ward in Kabba-Bunu local government area, and eight others, were kidnapped in a midnight operation by brigands. An Abuja-bound commuter bus from Lagos, carrying 18 passengers, was also in December 2024, intercepted around Obajana in Okunland and all the occupants abducted. The kidnappers placed a N100 million ransom on their victims. Should we mention the travails of subsistence farmers in Okunland and Kogi West who in several instances have literally been barred from their farmlands in their homelands by scurrilous criminal elements masquerading as herders? This has been the collective experience of the genetically peace-loving people of Kogi West District.
The people of the geopolitical span under interrogation, have not exactly thrown up their hands in despair in their worrying circumstances. Hunters and vigilantes despite their constrained training and arming, are usually on the front foot combing the forests and thickets. Following attacks on three commercial banks located in Egbe and Odo-Ere in Yagba West just before Christmas in 2021, for instance, Okun hunters and vigilantes entered the forests and indeed arrested a few of the culprits who missed their ways after the dastardly operation. Indeed, early June 2024, Okun vigilantes and hunters joined the army, police, DSS and NSCDC, in raiding the camps of kidnappers in the forest of Yagba West, in an operation which lasted for several days. Yagba West shares boundaries with Kwara, Niger and Ekiti states which makes it specifically vulnerable to criminal incursions.
Several other communities and councils in Kogi West, share abutments with neighbouring states which makes them vulnerable. Disturbed by the unabating recurrence of multifaceted criminality in Okunland which dominates six of the seven local government areas in Kogi West, Sunday Karimi, the Senator representing the District, singularly undertook the construction of a Forward Operating Base, (FOB) in Egbe, last year. The fully furnished mini-barracks which is capable of hosting two units of military personnel, was commissioned last October. It has since been taken over and operationalised by the Nigerian Army. To underscore his concurrence with Karimi’s bold initiative, the Member Representing Yagba federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Leke Joseph Abejide, participated at the inauguration and handing over event.
Given the dynamism of crime and criminality, containment and mitigation strategies must also of necessity be proactive. As an essential component of the global Yoruba country, as a people and senatorial district which share boundaries with two geopolitical subscribers to the Amotekun concept, notably Ondo and Ekiti states, there is no better time to adapt the prototype in Kogi West and in Okunland. The template may be available on the internet or can be obtained from one of the present six participating states. While it is true that whole states, and not sections or parts of states are subscribers to the philosophy elsewhere, there must be a way to adapt the template for Kogi West. As a people, we know where our shoes presently pinch us.
At the recent maiden annual lecture of the National Institute for Security Studies, (NISS), the Director-General of the Department of State Services, (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi, noted that “communities should be empowered to serve as the first line of defence in tackling criminality.” According to him, they must lead the way “before the intervention of the police, the military and other security agencies.” Ajayi noted that “some level of armament must be allowed at the level of communities, so they can serve as the first layer of defence.” He cited examples from Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro communities in Bauchi State where he previously served, as places where the antics of marauders were successfully repelled. He indeed alluded to his community back home in Ogun State as one which he is guiding to stand up for itself in the face of adversity. This gifts us a perfect window to explore, for the setting up of a Kogi West/Okunland Amotekun Corps.
The people of Kogi West trust their Senator, Sunday Karimi, to pick up the gauntlet and rally his colleagues, namely Leke Abejide, Idris Salman and Danladi Suleiman Aguye, representing Yagba, Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu and Lokoja/Kotonkarfe, respectively, to articulate this proposal. Representatives of state constituencies in Kogi West in the Kogi State House of Assembly, (KGHA), and Chairmen of local government areas in the district, must of necessity be an integral part of this concept. Very happily, the federal government now directly credits the accounts of local government authorities with their dues which allows room for targeted fiscal flexibility. Budgets have to be drawn up to accommodate the needs and remuneration of Amotekun operatives. Elsewhere, they are properly kitted with uniforms, footwears and bulletproof vests. They are well armed and enabled with ample quantities of ammunition, and are duly remunerated and provided with serviceable patrol and operational vehicles. They undergo drills to keep in shape and ready. Let’s imagine just how better improved the security situation in Kogi West will be if 100 Amotekun corps members are added to the existing security capacity of each LGA. This comes to a total of 700 additional crime fighters in the zone. Criminals will definitely have a rethink before daring their potential Waterloo.
Tunde Olusunle, PhD, Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors, (FANA), is an Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Abuja
A man who is absolutely focused on his job; never distracted by anything; full of courage to take on reforms necessary for securing the future of the country and lay the foundation for a prosperous and self reliant nation.
The fundamentals of the economy are taking their roots and we are seeing the results already in every sphere of our national lives. Thank you Mr President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
— Dr. Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communications to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
A man who is absolutely focused on his job; never distracted by anything; full of courage to take on reforms necessary for securing the future of the country and lay the foundation for a prosperous and self reliant nation.
