YORUBA YOUTHS URGES SOUTHWEST GOVERNORS TO STRENGTHEN AMOTEKUN, CALLS FOR UNITED FRONT AMONG OBAS AGAINST TERRORISM, BANDITRY

The Yoruba Youth COUNCIL-YYC has called on governors of the six states in the South-West to immediately strengthen the Amotekun Corps with the necessary arms, equipment, and logistics required to secure the region more effectively. The body also urged Yoruba Obas and traditional rulers to unite and reinforce collaboration with security agencies in order to protect communities from the escalating wave of terrorist and bandit attacks.

YYC further appealed to the Federal Government to fast-track the empowerment of regionally regulated local security structures, enabling them to provide swift, lawful, and organized support in the fight against terrorism, banditry, and widespread kidnappings.

Insecurity across Nigeria continues to evolve rapidly, with recent incidents ranging from mass abductions and school attacks to assaults on worship centres and movements of armed groups across forested border corridors. These developments underscore the urgent need for better-equipped security responses at the grassroots level, capable of complementing national forces.

Speaking on behalf of the organisation, YYC President Aare Alawode Rahmon stated:

“Our communities are increasingly vulnerable. The bravery of Amotekun personnel is unquestionable, but many are deployed without firepower, protective gear, mobility resources, and communication tools needed to confront heavily armed criminal networks. We are urging Southwest governors to close this gap without delay, backed by clear rules of engagement, human-rights safeguards, and strong oversight.”

He added that the ongoing regional debate about arming Amotekun must now give way to decisive action.

YYCW also called on Yoruba monarchs to deepen their leadership role in safeguarding the land, emphasizing the need for consistent cooperation with the police, military, and intelligence agencies. Many traditional rulers have already raised concerns about planned incursions into South-West forests and border communities — warnings that demand a unified, multi-layered response.

The Council outlined three priority actions:

1. Strengthen and professionalize Amotekun

Governors are urged to provide the corps with appropriate arms, protective equipment, patrol vehicles, communication systems, and continuous training. These improvements must be supported by strict accountability structures, operational standards, and judicial supervision.

2. Deepen collaboration between traditional rulers and security agencies

Yoruba Obas and community leaders should coordinate across the region and formally integrate with federal and state security efforts to boost intelligence gathering, community policing, conflict resolution, and rapid-response capabilities.

3. Empower local security models at the federal level

The federal government is encouraged to establish clearer legal and institutional frameworks that allow properly regulated local security agencies to operate effectively alongside national forces without violating constitutional limits on policing. This is essential for building timely and lawful responses to terrorism and large-scale banditry.

YYC emphasized that expanding local security capacity must go hand in hand with accountability, intelligence coordination, human-rights protections, and strong community oversight. The aim, it said, is a balanced, rule-of-law-based approach that reinforces the national security architecture while protecting vulnerable communities.

Signed:

Aare Alawode Rahmon

President, Yoruba Youth Council Worldwide (YYCW)

+2347036078155

alawoderahmon@gmail.com