*By Tunde Olusunle*

It had festered for long. The wanton trespass, the emboldened criminality, the mindless murders, the reckless disruption of the rhythm of day-to-day activities of several communities in Nigeria’s South West. Formal and informal intelligence, fingered voyaging Fulani herdsmen as prime perpetrators of the crimson regime upon the Yoruba hemisphere. The pastoralists herded their cattle from the nation’s north, down south. They fed and fattened their livestock on farmlands owned by landowners, with unbelievable impunity. Aboriginal dissenters to such roughshod rides through their sweat-grown farms, were often sent to early graves. Luckier escapees, most times left with scars to last a lifetime. To confirm that they were on a mission to destroy, maim and murder, they moved around with deadly machetes and sophisticated weapons, beyond regular arms admissible for self protection, as they rampaged through the zone.

Beyond farmlands in the recesses of the Yoruba country, kidnappers, armed robbers and killers took over and terrorised roads and expressways in the South West, with uncommon boldness. They routinely caused gridlocks on roads like the all-important Sagamu-Ore-Benin highway, in the discharge of their criminal ventures. They would move from vehicle to vehicle dispossessing commuters of their belongings and shooting at random, killing the hapless. They abducted travellers and would subsequently request for ransoms from the families of their victims. At other times, they just murdered their victims like they did to Olufunke Olakunrin, daughter of the respected Yoruba leader, Reuben Fasoranti, on the same road under reference, in June 2019. Fortuitously, her killers were found, prosecuted and sentenced to death three years later.

Governors of the South West states, unanimously afflicted by this scourge, agreed in January 2020, to establish in their various states, a security outfit to be known as *Amotekun.* A Yoruba word, *Amotekun* means “cheetah.” The animal is a member of the global “big cat” family in the animal kingdom, which are apex predators. Creatures in this bracket which include lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, are famous for stealth, speed and precision in preying on their targets. All six states in the region: Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti, signed up for this initiative, which was driven from the very top by the governors of each state. The South West states are famous for their historical collaboration on issues of the socioeconomic wellbeing of their states and people. The *Amotekun* concept is emplaced as a homegrown complement to the endeavours of existing intelligence and security organisations, in securing lives and property. It is not a rival, but a partner with preexisting agencies in the intelligence and security ecosystem. This typically consists of the military, the police, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) and the Department of State Services, (DSS).

Across the six South West states, *Amotekun* is charged primarily to protect persons, property and carry out emergency response services. The Corps systematically gathers, documents, evaluates and analyses data and information to convert to actionable intelligence for tactical, operational and strategic goals. It shares intelligence about crime in progress; suspicious activities, criminal suspects and other criminal activities. *Amotekun* collaborates with similar security agencies including but not limited to Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states in deterring kidnapping, terrorism, disruption of livelihood, criminal damage to property, cultism, highway robbery and other criminal activities. It ensures that all persons travelling along highways, major roads, remote areas, hinterlands and forests are free to engage in their normal activities without fear or hindrance. *Amotekun* also assists the police in carrying out any other lawful activity aimed at maintaining law and order within their areas of jurisdiction. The operational ambit of the Corps could indeed be broader.

Since the enthronement of *Amotekun* in the six core Yoruba states five years ago, the organisation has complement the enterprise of statutory security outfits in notable measure. It has foiled robberies, disrupted kidnappings, stemmed open-ended trespass and destruction of farms by marauding herdsmen, and rescued potential victims and casualties of criminal schemes. As recently as Sunday February 15, 2025, *Amotekun* foiled a robbery on the notorious Sagamu- Odogbolu- Ijebu Ode, on the Lagos-Sagamu-Ore-Benin expressway. One of the suspects was neutralised, while a second one was arrested during a gun duel. The suspect arrested led *Amotekun* operatives to the hideout of the gang, where another suspect who had earlier fled during the gun duel, took refuge. Just last week, February 10, 2025, the Ondo State Command of the Corps rescued five victims of a kidnapping episode on the ever recurring Benin- Owo road. Such is the serially documented efficacy of *Amotekun* in its various theatres of operation.

Worthy of note is the fact that the topmost echelons of *Amotekun* leadership across the South West, are very senior retired military and police officers, not below the ranks of retired Brigadier-General or Assistant Inspector General of Police, (AIG). The Oyo State outfit for instance is headed by Brigadier-General Kunle Togun, while the Ogun State formation is led by Brigadier-General Alade Adedigba. The Chairman of the Osun State variant is AIG Wale Abbas, while Brigadier-General Olu Adewa leads the Ekiti State *Amotekun* command. This underscores the seriousness with which the outfit is organised and deployed. Our reservoir of ex-servicemen in our communities, local hunters, vigilantes and youths can constitute the core of the operatives.

Recent criminal incidents in the the Okun country in Kogi State and Kogi West senatorial district at large, compels a proposition for the establishment of an *Amotekun* detachment in the zone. Like its kith and kin in core Western Nigeria, Okunland has been the butt of several violations by a broad canvas of criminals. Daredevil armed robbers have invaded Okun communities, targeting banks and murdering regular folk. Kidnappers perennially lay siege on lonely stretches of the dilapidated road networks in Okunland, killing innocents and taking hostages in kidnap- for- ransom incidents. On May 2, 2021, Solomon Adegbayo a Commissioner in the Kogi State Pensions Board was killed in the same incident in which the Chairman of Yagba West local government area at the time, Pius Kolawole, was kidnapped.

Last December, Alaba Ope, the Councillor representing Odo-Ape Ward in Kabba-Bunu local government area, and eight others, were kidnapped in a midnight operation by brigands. An Abuja-bound commuter bus from Lagos, carrying 18 passengers, was also in December 2024, intercepted around Obajana in Okunland and all the occupants abducted. The kidnappers placed a N100 million ransom on their victims. Should we mention the travails of subsistence farmers in Okunland and Kogi West who in several instances have literally been barred from their farmlands in their homelands by scurrilous criminal elements masquerading as herders? This has been the collective experience of the genetically peace-loving people of Kogi West District.

The people of the geopolitical span under interrogation, have not exactly thrown up their hands in despair in their worrying circumstances. Hunters and vigilantes despite their constrained training and arming, are usually on the front foot combing the forests and thickets. Following attacks on three commercial banks located in Egbe and Odo-Ere in Yagba West just before Christmas in 2021, for instance, Okun hunters and vigilantes entered the forests and indeed arrested a few of the culprits who missed their ways after the dastardly operation. Indeed, early June 2024, Okun vigilantes and hunters joined the army, police, DSS and NSCDC, in raiding the camps of kidnappers in the forest of Yagba West, in an operation which lasted for several days. Yagba West shares boundaries with Kwara, Niger and Ekiti states which makes it specifically vulnerable to criminal incursions.

Several other communities and councils in Kogi West, share abutments with neighbouring states which makes them vulnerable. Disturbed by the unabating recurrence of multifaceted criminality in Okunland which dominates six of the seven local government areas in Kogi West, Sunday Karimi, the Senator representing the District, singularly undertook the construction of a *Forward Operating Base,* (FOB) in Egbe, last year. The fully furnished mini-barracks which is capable of hosting two units of military personnel, was commissioned last October. It has since been taken over and operationalised by the Nigerian Army. To underscore his concurrence with Karimi’s bold initiative, the Member Representing Yagba federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Leke Joseph Abejide, participated at the inauguration and handing over event.

Given the dynamism of crime and criminality, containment and mitigation strategies must also of necessity be proactive. As an essential component of the global Yoruba country, as a people and senatorial district which share boundaries with two geopolitical subscribers to the *Amotekun* concept, notably Ondo and Ekiti states, there is no better time to adapt the prototype in Kogi West and in Okunland. The template may be available on the internet or can be obtained from one of the present six participating states. While it is true that whole states, and not sections or parts of states are subscribers to the philosophy elsewhere, there must be a way to adapt the template for Kogi West. As a people, we know where our shoes presently pinch us.

At the recent maiden annual lecture of the National Institute for Security Studies, (NISS), the Director-General of the Department of State Services, (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi, noted that “communities should be empowered to serve as the first line of defence in tackling criminality.” According to him, they must lead the way “before the intervention of the police, the military and other security agencies.” Ajayi noted that “some level of armament must be allowed at the level of communities, so they can serve as the first layer of defence.” He cited examples from *Tafawa Balewa* and *Bogoro communities* in Bauchi State where he previously served, as places where the antics of marauders were successfully repelled. He indeed alluded to his community back home in Ogun State as one which he is guiding to stand up for itself in the face of adversity. This gifts us a perfect window to explore, for the setting up of a *Kogi West/Okunland Amotekun Corps.*

The people of Kogi West trust their Senator, Sunday Karimi, to pick up the gauntlet and rally his colleagues, namely Leke Abejide, Idris Salman and Danladi Suleiman Aguye, representing Yagba, Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu and Lokoja/Kotonkarfe, respectively, to articulate this proposal.

Representatives of state constituencies in Kogi West in the Kogi State House of Assembly, (KGHA), and Chairmen of local government areas in the district, must of necessity be an integral part of this concept. Very happily, the federal government now directly credits the accounts of local government authorities with their dues which allows room for targeted fiscal flexibility. Budgets have to be drawn up to accommodate the needs and remuneration of *Amotekun* operatives. Elsewhere, they are properly kitted with uniforms, footwears and bulletproof vests. They are well armed and enabled with ample quantities of ammunition, and are duly remunerated and provided with serviceable patrol and operational vehicles. They undergo drills to keep in shape and ready. Let’s imagine just how better improved the security situation in Kogi West will be if 100 *Amotekun* corps members are added to the existing security capacity of each LGA. This comes to a total of 700 additional crime fighters in the zone. Criminals will definitely have a rethink before daring their potential Waterloo.

*Tunde Olusunle, PhD, Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors, (FANA), is an Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Abuja*

By Yemi Itodo

Some people want us to believe what the Binance Executive said, simply because he’s a white man. That’s mental slavery!

There’s no magic on earth that would make me believe an outsider more than my own brother, until the matter is proven beyond every reasonable doubt.

How do I trust or choose a man whose background I don’t even know; someone who is being tried for defrauding Nigerians; accused of being used to finance terrorism in Nigeria; someone who escaped from the prison, despite the sophisticated apparatus of our security; above my own brother, whose background I know, who grew up with me and who we all went out in 2023, to queue behind him and elected him to represent us?

Beyond this, the institution of National Assembly is the only democracy legacy and an emblem of true democracy. Because, during the military regime, there was Executive and Judiciary as arms of government, the only difference is the absence of Legislative arm of government which is National Assembly, which makes this government a democratic government.

Then, one white Man who is already known for fraud internationally, will just come out to make spurious, sweepy and unsubstantiated allegation against our cherished symbol of democracy, and I would join him to rubbish my own identity?

I’m not standing in for anyone and I’m not exonerating anybody. I would even prefer the National Assembly set up an ad-hoc committee to thoroughly investigate this allegation and unearth whatever it is.

I’m happy the matter is already in court. I’m also happy the Federal Government is handling it with the American Government and this will lead to a successful conclusion of investigations.

Let all hands be on deck. Let the National Assembly too set up an ad-hoc committee, so we would be having both the executive, legislature and judiciary handling this weighty allegation.

Until the reports of these investigations are out, those accused remain innocent, until the guy man advances evidences against them at various panels to prove them guilty.

Let us not be too quick to crucify our own. Let us not contribute to the mantra being sponsored by enemies of Nigeria that we are all corrupt. At least, not everybody. Let’s learn how to trust ourselves, for once.

Let me submit by warning those who want to make political capital out of this or use this avenue to settle personal scores, to think twice before selling their own to outsiders. For when you sell your brother to outsiders, even the buyers will be scared of you.

If crocodile could not spare its own eggs but eats it, what would it not do to the flesh of another animal? Remember, he who trades in gravels, will receive his payments in stones.

*(Itodo contributes this short piece from National Assembly, Abuja).*

*By Tunde Olusunle*

It was a relay of calls competing for access to me Thursday February 6, 2025. Messages tagged “Breaking News” were equally discernible as they streamed onto my WhatsApp page. I would subsequently get to know that Christopher Adewole Jemitola, erstwhile aide-de-camp, (ADC) to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, had sadly and unexpectedly passed, just minutes ago. Those who know that I served as an aide to Obasanjo during his two terms in office, from 1999 to 2007, knew I would have known Jemitola. Our offices were in the very same one-storey building housing the seat and office of the President. The ADC and senior non-uniformed security aides to the Commander-in-Chief were on the ground floor. Those of us who manned the “Secretariat of the President,” the very next door to the nation’s helmsman, were upstairs. We often began our days together from the President’s residence, chaperoning him with his other aides, through the walkway linking his home and office, and vice versa. We were components of what is described as the “main body” of the President’s aides. We attended official events with him and flew on the presidential jet with him as well.

Jemitola was preceded on the job by Solomon Uangbaoje Giwa-Amu, who was Obasanjo’s ADC from 1999 to 2003. Giwa-Amu pulled me aside on the sidelines of the 2002 edition of the United Nations General Assembly, (UNGA), in New York. The bespectacled Giwa-Amu, famous for the red beret of the “military police,” the corps to which he belonged in the army was then a full Colonel. He recounted it had been worthwhile working with Obasanjo, meeting a broad spectrum of people and gaining invaluable experience the barracks would never have availed him. He said the President wants to continue with him into his second term because of the “father-son” relationship they had developed. Giwa-Amu, however, said he was personally minded about his mainstream career as a soldier. He said he desired to speedily return for reintegration into the military system, to mitigate envy and misgivings by his colleagues.

I functioned as master of ceremony for quite a number of state events, including dinners and receptions the President hosted for his visiting foreign colleagues. Obasanjo added that to my schedule beginning from a reception he hosted in honour of the former Gambian President, Yahya Jammeh. Renowned for his thriftiness, Obasanjo believed that professional comperes charged too much for their services. He believed many of them were not as articulate as I am, and more importantly, he wouldn’t have to pay for my services. Giwa-Amu loved my cadenced delivery and measured wit. He looked out frantically for me the day he was decorated Colonel in the chambers of the Federal Executive Council, (FEC). I was, unfortunately, otherwise engaged, especially because I had workstations both in the State House and the Federal Secretariat.

Tall, fair-complexioned, unobtrusive, Christopher Jemitola was a permanent fixture behind Obasanjo during his second term as President. He was professional, courteous and humble, the archetypal “officer and gentleman.” Whenever our paths crossed, communicated majorly in Yoruba which he spoke flawlessly. This was despite the fact that he wasn’t from a core Yoruba-speaking state. Not knowing who was older between both of us, he related with me with the kind of deference which presupposed I was the older party. I went to his residence abutting the President’s one morning and told his batman to inform him I wanted to see him. The batman returned to inform me that Jemitola said everyone desirous of a meeting with him should come over to his office. I stood my ground and gave my call card to the soldier to give to his boss. Jemitola emerged from the bathroom and was still mopping his body with his towel, apologised and listened to me. The information was beneficial to him and he was most thankful.

Those of us who served in the Obasanjo government went our separate ways after May 29, 2007. Jemitola returned to the Nigerian Army and was deployed to the Nigerian Embassy in Brazil as Defence Adviser. Giwa-Amu before him had served in a similar capacity at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC, between 2003 and 2007. Within that period, Giwa-Amu attended the US War College. Upon Jemitola’s return from Brazil, he was deployed to the position of Director of Defence Information, (DDI), at the Defence Headquarters, (DHQ). We thereafter saw each other fairly frequently on Sundays because we worshipped at the same parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, (RCCG) in Abuja. He was always his usual self, with zero affectations, no fawning aides holding his Bible for him, generous with his handshake, just himself.

Jemitola was promoted to the rank of Major General in 2014. Following the appointment of Tukur Buratai as Chief of Army Staff by the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari, in 2015, Jemitola was deployed as Commander, Corps of Signals, Headquarters, Lagos. Not too long after, he was reassigned as the Chief of Policy and Plans, (COPP), of the Nigerian Army. Such was the career mobility of Jemitola during his years in active military service. Following his retirement from service a few years ago, Jemitola made forays into post-regimental life, serving as Senior Advisor for Military Communications at Pinnacle Communications Ltd, in 2019. The outfit, a digital switchover licensee is headquartered in Asokoro, Abuja. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission, (ICPC), invaded the offices of the organisation January 22, 2020, weeks before the Chairman of the company, Lucky Omoluwa passed, February 18, 2020.

Major General Christopher Jemitola and his predecessor, Brigadier General Solomon Giwa-Amu, coincidentally, both hailed from Edo North in Edo State. That Obasanjo happily worked with both of them without parochial consideration of their origins reinforced the pan-Nigerian globality of the former President who eternally placed substance and quality, above primordial concerns like ethnicity and creed. Jemitola was from Ososo in Edo State, while Giwa-Amu was from Sabongida-Ora. As though the ability to play the game of squash was a prerequisite for being ADC to Obasanjo, both gentlemen played the game well. Indeed, they typically began their days, sparring with Obasanjo in the squash court annexed to the presidential residence. By tragic coincidence, Jemitola and Giwa-Amu both died in the month of February. Giwa-Amu died on Monday February 18, 2008, in an automobile accident between Abuja and Kaduna, following a tire burst to the vehicle in which he was riding.

He was to deliver a lecture at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, (AFCSC), in Jaji, Kaduna State and reportedly opted to ride in the Toyota Coaster bus conveying other officers and men to the lecture, while his staff car, drove behind. Of all the 18 occupants of the said bus, Giwa-Amu was the singular casualty. Gabriel Giwa-Amu, an attorney and brother to Solomon Giwa-Amu, sustained inquisition into this riddle for several years. Yes, there was a deep cut in Solomon Giwa-Amu’s head, according to family members, but there was no physical wound of any kind on his body.

There were suspicions that Giwa-Amu’s ever rising profile, troubled not a few interests in the army. Recall his fears about possible peer jealousies to which I earlier alluded. He was just 49 when he passed. He would have been 66 this year and would have been long retired from active service. I attended his final rites of passage and interment in his private residence, in Sabongida-Ora. He had four children with his beloved wife, Judith. Jemitola turned 63 on Christmas day last December 25. Like many retirees, golfing appealed to him. He could play the game anytime of the day, keep fit and stay in the company of friends. He slumped and passed at the IBB Golf Club, Abuja the morning of Thursday February 6, 2025, after playing the game. He had two children, Caleb and Iman, with Josephine, his erstwhile wife.

So sad Nigeria has lost the sheer quality, the multidimensional reservoir of institutional memory embedded in the persons of Major General Christopher Adewole Jemitola and Brigadier General Solomon Uangaboje Giwa-Amu. Their wisdoms would, without doubt, have served Nigeria positively, especially in the security and military ecosystem to which they devoted decades of their shortlived lives. People like them should be resource persons in the many academies, centres, colleges and institutes of the Nigerian military. They should today be Emeritus instructors in: Civilian/military relations; Sustenance of military professionalism in a democratic dispensation; Ensuring inter-service collaboration between sister security departments in a democracy, and so on. We pray God to grant sweet repose to their souls, even as we entrust their families to the eternal care of God the Almighty.

*Tunde Olusunle, PhD, Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors, (FANA), is an Adjunct Professor in the Centre for Creative Writing, University of Abuja*