Gani Adams: Insecurity Now a Business, Amotekun Is Politicized

​LAGOS — The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has raised a fresh alarm over the deteriorating security situation in Nigeria, alleging that the crisis has morphed into a “lucrative business venture” exploited by criminal syndicates and collaborators.

​Speaking in an interview on Saturday, the Yoruba leader also delivered a stinging critique of the South-West Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun. While the outfit was birthed to defend the region, Adams claimed its effectiveness is being throttled by political interference.

​Adams argued that the current federal policing structure has proven incapable of addressing the sophisticated nature of modern crime. He joined the growing chorus of voices demanding the immediate constitutional approval of state police.

​”The situation is getting out of hand because the government is not providing a solution,” Adams stated. “Every community is under a local government. If we recruit people locally, this issue of insecurity will be reduced.”

ADVERTISEMENT

​He proposed a funding model where local governments contribute 40% and state governments 60% of the allocation to maintain these forces. Dismissing fears that state governors would use local police to oppress rivals, he noted that the federal government already uses the national police for political interests, and that the judiciary remains the ultimate safeguard.

​The “Politicization” of Amotekun

​One of the most striking revelations in his address was the alleged decline of the Amotekun Corps. According to Adams, the recruitment process—initially driven by merit and a need for local protection—has been hijacked by state actors.

​”Some state actors have seen it as a place to give employment to their political followers,” Adams lamented. “The issue of security must not be like that because it is a matter of life and death.” He noted that while the initial recruitment in Oyo State showed promise, subsequent phases across the region have favored political loyalty over competence and intelligence.

​Monarchs Under Fire

​The Aare Ona Kakanfo expressed deep concern over the increasing frequency of attacks on traditional institutions. He revealed that approximately seven traditional rulers have been killed by terrorists across the South-West and Yoruba-speaking areas of Kwara State.

​He further noted that kidnapping and banditry have spread beyond rural borders into major hubs like Ibadan and parts of Ogun State, as well as the riverine corridors of Epe and Ibeju-Lekki in Lagos.

​Adams disclosed that he has written to South-West governors twice, offering to collaborate with over 30 grassroots groups to bolster regional security, but has received no response.

​”Must we wait until they kill us like chickens before the election of 2027?” he asked, urging the governors to implement the 14-point communiqué produced during last year’s Yoruba Security Conference.