Thinking Beyond Amotekun And Fulani Herdsmen's Daydreaming

By: Busy Brain

After reading news about the security conglomerations in South West region called Operation Amotekun, I swiftly flashed back to one of my columns published on Nairaland on July 16, 2019 titled: "The Herdsmen Signal To Afenifere And The Drum Of War."

The column in quotation was written after the death of Mrs. Funke Olakunrin, daughter of Pa, Fasoranti, a leader of Yoruba Social Cultural and Political Group in Nigeria. Since the death of this promising woman, South West leaders have been in a very sad mood. Her death was painful, caused political rages and vendetta, and as well opened doors for discussions on which way to walk and pass the spate of security siege that has beleaguered the region. I need not to be told, Mrs. Funke Olakunrin of blessed memory was one of the factors that gave birth to operation Amotekun in South West.

Not only that, many out of the victims of kidnapping recorded in the region were prominent personalities who escaped death with huge ransom. For instance, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae was abducted in his farm in Ondo State; also an Ibadan-based lawyer, Mr. Musibau Adetunmbi was abducted at Iwaraja in Osun State along Ilesha-Akure Road in April 2019.

Prof. of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Adeyinka Adegbehingbe was kidnapped between Asejire and Ikire towns while travelling from Lagos to Ile-Ife in May 2019 as well as Mr. Adedayo Adewole, son of former Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole.

How many of Adepele's multiple and interlocked teeth could be counted?

The above calamity that had befallen the region in the past therefore, called for a security summit attended by South West governors and other Yoruba leaders. After much deliberations and brainstormings, Operation Amotekun was revealed to combat kidnapping, robbery, incessant killings that have been terrorising the region.

With all these catastrophic events, I think, South West governors owe no-one an explanation for the reasons behind operation Amotekun. Of course, the reasons are obvious So, why would this fresh security policy serve as a threat to Miyetti Allah cattle breeders and Nothern Youths?

Should South West leaders continue to sit comfortably and watch their region conquered by the scourge of social vices?

Is it not disgusting and nonsensical for Miyetti Allah cattle breeders to see Amotekun as big threat and attack it with criticisms instead of serving a stern warnings to their fellow ranchers to desist from atrocities. Tell Miyetti Allah to awake from slumbering. Operation Amotekun has come to stay.

Now, thinking beyond Amotekun and Miyetti Allah's daydreaming, my greatest fear is how this security personnel would function professionally without abuse of power. Power makes one to be manner less like Marlians. We abuse almost everything here in Nigeria.

For example, our trained security personnel in Nigeria always engage in extortion, oppression and extra judicial killings. What would now be the measures to stop Operation Amotekun personnel from power violations?

At the same time, I'm worried about the collaborations of Nigeria Police Force with Operation Amotekun because everyone would always want to be on a safer side. Or is it not a channel to be on a safer side when Police expect Amotekun to always be at crime zone before them and at the same time, a safer side when Amotekun assume that police should already be at crisis arena before them. What's my point here, the relationship should be symbiotic in nature without hindrance.

Here lies a great task ahead of the South West leaders and it goes beyond ordinary ceremonial launching. There should be working parameters and cordial collaborations between operation Amotekun's personnel and national security agents. The criteria for recruitment should not base on hunters who can only handle our locally made guns. Psychological, physiological and integrity tests should be considered so that we can have a gallant, credible and concrete Amotekun.

Not those ones that would only take laws into their hands and abet criminality in the process. Miyetti Allah should take heart and allow Amotekun to have fresh breath. God bless Nigeria.

Busy Brain is an award winning writer, journalist, researcher and Public Relations Practitioner.

He graduated from the Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State... the fastest growing polytechnic in Nigeria.

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