By Segun Onibiyo
Ondo state, Nigeria – On July 28, Ambassador Dr. Markwili Mgbara, Director of Communications of the International Association of World Peace Advocates, announced in Ondo state, Amotekun’s designation as the first state-owned security outfit in Africa to receive UN recognition, affiliating it under the United Nations ECOSOC. The corps will now join commemorations for the UN’s 80th anniversary in New York this September. “Amotekun’s contributions to peace and security in Nigeria’s Southwest meet the goals of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16.”
According to the statement, Mgbara said the affiliation certificate was issued under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) consultative status and the International Association of World Peace Advocacy.
When the United Nations officially declared July 7 as “World Amotekun Day,” it marked a historical first: a state‑owned paramilitary force in Africa being formally recognized on the global stage. That move signals more than ceremonial applause, it acknowledges that a regional idea born amid controversy in 2020 has become a peacekeeping model with international stature.
“This recognition is dedicated to God and Governor Aiyedatiwa. Today, thanks to government support, farmers have returned, food insecurity has reduced, and economic activities are thriving.” Adetunji Adeleye, Commander, Ondo State Amotekun Corps.
From Vigilante to Vanguard
Operation Amotekun, Yoruba for “Leopard” was launched on January 9, 2020 by the governors of the six Southwest states: Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Ekiti. What began as a response to rising Fulani militia attacks, kidnappings, banditry, and mass displacement quickly evolved into a formal security network, drawing recruits from hunters, local vigilantes, and community defence groups.
Amotekun hit obstacles early, including a federal declaration deeming it illegal. But by early 2024, most Southwest states had passed enabling laws to mainstream the corps into the regional security architecture.
In Ondo State, residents say they now drive long distances without fear. In Ekiti, farmlands once abandoned are returning to production, easing local food insecurity.
Inside the Ranks: Expert and Commander Insights
Retired CSP Adekunle Omoyele, Commander of the Osun Amotekun Corps, shared via telephone interview with TruthNigeria reporter echoes his earlier stance captured in a national media: “My vision for Amotekun is to align with UN standards. Amotekun will be technologically advanced and logistically fortified, meeting international best practices.”
He noted that the corps, though unarmed, operates effectively through local intelligence networks cooperation and bush-savvy tactics inherited from hunter traditions.
A senior Southwest security adviser based in Ibadan, Abiodun Omidiji speaking to TruthNigeria via WhatsApp call, emphasized: “Community intelligence and hunter patrols outperform conventional police in forest warfare. They know the terrain and the people.”
Legal and Cultural Foundations
Legal luminary Femi Falana (SAN) has consistently argued for the evolution of Amotekun into state policing under constitutional backing. “It is indisputable that the six states in the Southwest zone have no joint parliament. Hence, I have called on each State House of Assembly to enact a law for the establishment of Amotekun.
“However, since the six states have been grouped together and recognized as the “southwest zone” by the Federal Character Commission Act (Cap F7) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 they are not precluded from collaborating in securing the life and property of every person living or visiting the region.” He argued in a discussion the legality of the creation of Amotekun in a national media.
Culturally, Amotekun’s name, emblem, and approach are embedded in Yoruba tradition. Elder Akinboade from Oyo state told TruthNigeria reporter via text message, “Amotekun is the child of our forest, a protector born of tradition. Amotekun will do well if well structured, backed by the government and most importantly, when there’s cooperation with locals who know the terrains. We are local people. We know the traditional ways of defending ourselves.”
UN Recognition and Its Ripple Effect
Adetunji Adeleye, Ondo State Commander and Chairman of the Amotekun Southwest Commanders Council said, “Amotekun corps rescued over 40 kidnapped victims without paying a ransom, including a 96-hour bush operation between Ondo and Ekiti.”
As July 7 becomes an annual event, the larger debate around state policing in Nigeria takes center stage. Can Amotekun’s model, community-rooted, intelligence-driven, and culturally grounded be replicated across other regions?
Some analysts warn of the risks of politicized forces at the local level. Yet, advocates argue that conventional federal policing has simply not adapted to Nigeria’s diverse security challenges.
Speaking to TruthNigeria reporter via telephone, a retired CSP and now security expert, CP Olorunda Bakare said, “If replicated wisely, Amotekun could offer a roadmap for federalized, community-empowered policing in Nigeria.”
Conclusion: A Region’s Experiment Becomes Global Symbol
Mrs. Busayo Shuaibu, a security analyst based in Ekiti state said, “What started as a defiant regional response has matured into a globally endorsed model of grassroots peacekeeping. Amotekun’s recognition by the United Nations affirms the potential of bottom-up, community-based approaches to national security. I pray it is sustained and fortified to work harder”.
An industrialist, political and security analyst, Chief Ajasin Abogunde concluded saying, “the declaration of World Amotekun Day carries significant implications not just for Nigeria, but for the global community particularly countries like the United States that are invested in international counterterrorism and peacekeeping partnerships.
For the U.S., it signals an opportunity to study and possibly support localized, community-based security frameworks in fragile democracies where federal systems struggle to ensure internal safety. Globally, it sets a precedent: for the first time, the United Nations has endorsed a sub national, culturally rooted security force, suggesting that hybrid models of policing blending tradition, intelligence, and community trust may be crucial in combating 21st-century threats like rural insurgency and ethnic violence. For Nigeria, the recognition elevates Amotekun from a regional experiment to a national talking point, potentially accelerating the debate around constitutional amendments for state policing and redefining what legitimate, accountable security should look like in a multi-ethnic federation.”
Onibiyo Segun reports on terrorism and conflicts for TruthNigeria.
