Say Amotekun, Ebube Agu, Vigilante Groups Should Be Integrated, Not Excluded

By Olawale Ogunbusola, Ibadan

Security experts have called for the amendment of Section 25(5) of the proposed State Police Bill, warning that a blanket prohibition on integrating existing regional and community security outfits could create more security and financial problems for states.

Section 25(5) of the Bill seeks to prohibit the transformation or integration of existing outfits such as the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun, Ebube Agu, recognized Vigilante Groups, Hisbah, Forest Guards and other state-backed security organizations into the proposed State Police Service.

In his reaction, a security consultant and forensic expert, Dr. Yusuf Oladele said the provision fails to recognize the strategic value and operational experience these institutions have built over the years.

“While the intention may be to establish a professional police institution free from political influence, the provision ignores the fact that these organizations have acquired years of operational experience and community trust,” Dr. Oladele said in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan on Saturday.

He cited Amotekun as an example, noting that the Western Nigeria Security Network has become one of the most organized sub-national security initiatives in Nigeria.

“Across the South-West, thousands of operatives have been recruited and trained over several years in firearms handling, intelligence gathering, rural patrol, arrest procedures, conflict de-escalation, and collaboration with conventional security agencies. Oyo State alone has over 2,000 Amotekun personnel,” he said.

According to him, empirical studies show that Amotekun has complemented the Nigeria Police Force in combating kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry and other violent crimes, though challenges of funding, logistics and legal authority remain.

Dr. Oladele warned that excluding already trained personnel would lead to duplication of costs, delayed operational readiness, and dangerous security gaps.
“Government has already invested substantial public resources in recruitment, training, uniforms, equipment, intelligence development and operational bases. To ignore these personnel is not cost-effective,” he said.

He added that international best practice supports integration, not exclusion. Citing examples from South Africa, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Northern Ireland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, he said those countries successfully integrated former security personnel through vetting, retraining and certification under the United Nations IDDRS and SSR frameworks.

“The concern goes beyond administrative efficiency. Thousands of trained personnel possess operational knowledge, tactical skills and intelligence networks. If excluded without a structured transition, we risk frustration, unemployment and the potential recruitment of these operatives by criminal networks,” he warned.

To address this, Dr. Oladele recommended that Section 25(5) be amended to provide a “Transitional Integration Framework.”

Under the framework, members of Amotekun, Ebube Agu, Vigilante Groups, Hisbah and other lawfully established community security outfits would be eligible, but not automatically entitled, to join the State Police after meeting strict standards.

The proposed standards included comprehensive background and integrity screening, Verification of service records and operational performance, medical, psychological and physical fitness assessments, human rights and ethical conduct evaluations, firearms proficiency and competency certification, Intelligence and investigative aptitude assessment; mandatory retraining under a nationally approved curriculum and continuous professional development and periodic recertification

He further advised that integrated officers operate under harmonized Standard Operating Procedures, SOPs, based on legality, proportionality, accountability, human rights, intelligence-led policing, community policing and independent civilian oversight.

“State Police should not be built by discarding proven security architecture. It should build upon verified experience while eliminating unqualified personnel through transparent and merit-based processes,” Dr. Oladele said.

“Transforming competent existing security organizations into a professional State Police structure represents a more sustainable, cost-effective and internationally accepted model than beginning entirely anew.”