Osogbo residents berate worsening insecurity, warn against continued detention of Amotekun Commander, others
Osogbo residents berate worsening insecurity, warn against continued detention of Amotekun Commander, others
By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
Residents of Osogbo, the Osun State capital, have raised serious concerns over what they described as a gradual but steady deterioration in security across the state, warning that the continued detention of the State Commander of the Osun Amotekun Corps, Dr. Isaac Omoyele, and other operatives in Abuja is significantly contributing to the situation.
According to the residents, the prolonged detention has weakened the operational capacity and coordination of the Amotekun Corps, thereby creating security gaps that criminals are allegedly exploiting in various parts of the state.
Dr. Omoyele is alleged to have been detained following the killing of two persons at Akinlalu, also known as Akinlalu Community, in Osun State by operatives of the Amotekun Corps sometime last year.
The incident, which generated widespread public outrage at the time, resulted in the arrest of some Amotekun operatives suspected to be directly involved.
Speaking with our correspondent, an Osogbo resident, Mr. Jacob Akintola, said the continued detention of the Amotekun commander has negatively impacted the effectiveness of the Corps, which was established to complement the Nigeria Police and other security agencies in maintaining law and order at the grassroots level.
Akintola noted that since the detention of the Amotekun leadership, the presence of the Corps in communities has significantly reduced, leading to heightened fear among residents and a perceived increase in criminal activities.
“Amotekun was created to assist other sister security agencies in protecting lives and property. What happened in Akinlalu was unfortunate, but the continuous detention of the commander is unnecessary.
Those directly involved in the misfire that led to the killing of innocent people have already been arrested and should face the law.”
He further criticised the sealing of Amotekun offices across the state, describing the action as excessive and counterproductive, especially at a time when communities are grappling with rising cases of theft, robbery, and other criminal activities.
Akintola condemned the actions of the Nigeria Police and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, calling on the police authorities to reconsider their approach to the matter in the interest of public safety.
He urged the immediate release of the Amotekun commander and other detained operatives, insisting that justice would best be served by prosecuting only those found culpable in the killings, rather than weakening the entire security architecture of the state.
Similarly, another resident, Mrs. Victoria Akimolafe, described the situation as unfortunate and deeply troubling, noting that despite the arrest of the suspected operatives directly involved in the incident, the Amotekun commander was invited for questioning and subsequently detained in Abuja.
Akimolafe alleged that the continued detention of the Amotekun boss was politically motivated, arguing that the matter had been unnecessarily politicised instead of being handled strictly as a legal and security issue.
She added that the prolonged detention has sent a wrong signal to officers of the Corps, resulting in low morale, fear, and reduced operational confidence.
“From all indications, Amotekun’s operations have slowed down significantly, and this has emboldened criminal elements. People no longer see Amotekun patrols the way they used to. The government must act quickly in the interest of public safety,” she said.
Akimolafe also called on the Osun State Government to urgently intervene by engaging relevant federal authorities to ensure that the matter is resolved without further delay.
Meanwhile, the issue has continued to generate public concern, as wives of Osun State Amotekun personnel penultimate Monday staged a peaceful protest in Osogbo, demanding the immediate release of their husbands who were arrested by the Nigeria Police in connection with the Akinlalu incident.
The women, who marched through major streets of Osogbo carrying placards with various inscriptions, appealed to the Federal Government, the Nigeria Police Force, former state governors, traditional rulers, and other influential political leaders to intervene and secure the release of the detained officers.
Some of the placards bore inscriptions such as “Release Our Husbands,” “Justice for Amotekun Officers,” and “End Prolonged Detention Without Trial.”
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Mrs. Ajiboye Olusola lamented that their husbands have remained in detention in Abuja for several months without any form of communication or update on their case.
She described the prolonged detention as inhumane and emotionally distressing, noting that many of the affected families have been plunged into severe economic hardship.
“Our husbands have been detained for months, and since then we have not heard anything about their case. We have been patient, but the suffering has become unbearable. They are innocent and only carried out their duties. We are pleading with the Federal Government and the Nigeria Police to release our husbands,” she said.
Another protester, Mrs. Idayat Oluwatoyin Oladokun, said the continued detention has adversely affected the welfare of their families, stressing that most of the detained officers are the sole breadwinners of their households.
“Our husbands are our breadwinners. Since their arrest, our families have faced untold hardship. My husband left home in October saying he was going to work, and he has never returned. We cannot continue like this. We are begging those in authority to please intervene,” she said.
Also speaking, Mrs. Demola Aminat appealed for mercy and understanding, stating that the families’ hopes now rest solely on the compassion of the authorities.
The protesters warned that continued detention without trial or communication could further deepen public distrust and worsen the already fragile security situation in the state.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the Nigeria Police Force or the Osun State Government regarding the demands of the residents and the protesting families.
