Governor Makinde reveals why Lagos State opted out of Amotekun Security outfit

Governor Makinde reveals why Lagos State opted out of Amotekun Security outfit

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has urged the Federal Government to end what he described as delays and “deception” over the proposed establishment of state police, insisting that the ongoing debate is wasting Nigerians’ time.

Makinde made the remarks on Monday at a joint mega rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Action Peoples Party (APM) held in Ibadan.

He argued that states already have the capacity to establish their own policing structures if there is political will, noting that the South-West region had earlier advocated for state police but later settled for a regional security outfit, Amotekun, as a temporary measure.

“We wanted state police. It was because we couldn’t get the state police that we established Amotekun as a stop-gap,” the governor said.

He added, “They should stop wasting Nigerians’ time.”

The governor explained that the creation of Amotekun was achieved through coordinated legislative actions across South-West state Houses of Assembly, without waiting for federal bureaucratic approval.

According to him, state governments can replicate similar frameworks if empowered to do so.

Makinde also claimed that Lagos State was the only South-West state that did not adopt the Amotekun security structure, attributing the decision to political leadership at the time.

“The only state that didn’t create Amotekun is Lagos state, and we know it is because their boss didn’t want Amotekun,” he said.

He urged the Federal Government to grant constitutional backing and authority to state assemblies to establish state police, arguing that such structures could be operational within a short period if political obstacles were removed.

Makinde, who described insecurity as a central focus of his administration, said Amotekun was introduced early in his tenure after it became clear that state policing at the federal level would take time to materialise.

His comments come amid rising security concerns in Oyo State, following the recent abduction of pupils, students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area.

On May 15, armed assailants attacked three schools in the Ahoro-Esin-Ele/Yawota axis, reportedly abducting about 32 persons, including 18 primary school pupils, seven secondary school students and seven teachers.

One of the abducted teachers was later killed by the kidnappers.