FG outlaws Operation Amotekun

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Government today declared as illegal, the newly established Western Nigerian security outfit, codenamed  Operation Amotekun. Operation Amotekun was launched at an elaborate ceremony in Ibadan last week, following security challenges in the area. 

Prior to the launch of the outfit, the Daily Trust reported that  the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Mohammed gave tacit approval for formation of the outfit when he met with Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Kayode Fayemi. 

The IGP had earlier summoned all the six governors of the zone to an emergency meeting for clarifications on grey areas of  Operation Amotekun. 

However, membership of the outfit is drawn from Oodua Peoples Congress(OPC), the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, South-West Hunters Association, the South-West Agbekoya Group, Agbekoya Farmers Society Group, Yoruba Youth Council and the Community Security Awareness Initiative Corps of Nigeria. 

In a statement signed by the Special Adviser  on Media and Public Relations, Dr. Umar Gwandu to Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami, the minister declared the outfit illegal. 

According to him,  “The setting up of the paramilitary organisation called Amotekun is illegal and runs contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian law. 

“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) has established the army, navy and air force, including the police and other numerous paramilitary organisations for the purpose of the defence of Nigeria. 

“As a consequence of this, no state government, whether singly or in a group has the legal right and competence to establish any form of organisation or agency for the defence of Nigeria or any of its constituent parts.

“This is sanctioned by the provision of Item 45 of the Second Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) authorising the police and other Federal Government security services established by law to maintain law and order”, he said.

The Federal Government declared Operation Amotekun illegal in what some have said is the ground work for proscription of the outfit. Ironically,  this is coming after Public Relations Officers of the Nigerian Police in the Southwest vowed to arrest operational members found to be bearing unlicensed guns.

 Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Abimbola Oyeyemi, warned that any civilian member of Operation Amotekun found guilty of using unlicensed firearms would be arrested.  Oyeyemi was quoted as saying that anybody who is not a member of federal security agencies, such as the army, the police, and the customs, cannot bear AK-47 rifles.

“You cannot be in possession of prohibited firearms and you expect us to condone that. For example, somebody who does not belong to any security agency such as the army, the police and customs cannot carry an AK-47 rifle. You can’t carry a pump-action,” Oyeyemi said.

Public Relations Officer of  Ekiti State Police Command, Sunday Abutu also corroborated Oyeyemi’s position, stressing that members of Amotekun caught bearing prohibited firearms would be arrested.

“The approved local vigilante groups can only carry dane guns. Even people that are going to use those ones have to be approved by the police. The police know those ones that are prohibited and the ones that such groups can use. Once we see anybody or group with prohibited firearms, we will arrest them because they are not allowed to carry such,” Abutu said.