……..1st Anniversary: Why Ondo Amotekun Corps Is Rated Most Effective —Commander, Chief A. Adeleye
….In this Exclusive Interview, a Deputy Commandant-General (retired); Chief Adetunji Adeleye (FISN), who is the Corps Commander, Ondo State Security Network codenamed Amotekun Corps and Chairman, Council of Amotekun Commanders, shares with SUNSHINETRUTH New Magazine, how the state Security Network established one year ago has been putting smiles in the faces of residents amidst security challenges, ending incessant farmers/herders’ clashes in the state and his future Amotekun agenda.
You have been in the helms of affairs as pioneer commander of Amotekun Corps in the last one year of its existence, how is the journey so far?
Well, we thank God where He has led us to, it hasn’t been a very rosy journey as we have to go through a lot of troubles getting to where we are. When i came in, it was every minutes with (security) problems always with farmers and herders; kidnappings, armed robberies everywhere, so within the first few weeks of settling down, we came out with measures to checkmate various nefarious activities and substantially we have made alot of impacts to reduce criminal activities ranging from clashes between herders and farmers, cattle rustling, robbery, stealing, kidnapping and rape, across the board we have made tremendous impacts.
Sir, How did you reduce herders and farmers’ clashes to a bearest minimum in the state in the last one year?
You see, herders have the right as Nigerians to do their business likewise farmers, but in a situation where you take your cows to someone else farms to destroy the farm and humiliate such person you expect a reaction. Instead of this incessant quarrels, we were able to bring them to a round table discussion, majority of saw reasons with us, because we made them pay compensation for whatever is destroyed while some were charged to court. So that substantially brought down wanton destruction of farm crops by herders, now every herders in Ondo knows that they can’t do it with impunity again.
Recently, the Governor, Arakunrin Akeredolu gave a directive on registering of herders, especially those occupying the government’s forest reserves illegally. What is the situation and level of compliance with the directive?
The Government gave them the guidelines for registration and to date, only few of them had fulfilled the guidelines. So, that is why we are saying that they are occupying the forest reserves illegally and they should vacate the forest reserves. Right now, we don’t expect to have anybody there, anybody in the forest reserves of Ondo State is staying there illegally. Although some of them (herders) are making some moves to complete the registration formalities.
Do you have the statistics of herders/farmers clashes, the ones charged to court and the ones you resolved amicably?
Well, out of about 500 cases of farmers/herders clashes (in the last one year of creating Amotekun), we were able to resolve about 80% peacefully and only about 5% is what we have going to court now.
There was a particular period that criminals, kidnappers were terrorising travelers on the highway particularly on Akure-Owo road to Ifon/ Ose axis and Akoko area, how did you and other security operatives tackle this ugly trend and the roads are relatively safe now?
If you recall, sometimes in November (2021), when the situation really dearing, Amotekun (corps) embarked on operation clean up and what operation clean up does is to go to nitty-gritty and crannies of these criminals’ hideouts and smoke them out, so we started with the State Capital, we went to all black spots, made over 400 arrests.
Then we went to all (the 18) Local Government Headquarters, we now concentrated on the Northern Senatorial district where we had such criminal elements. We embarked on 24 hours patrol, we engaged the services of local hunters, vigilantes and other (security) volunteers to join our men and we patrol the forest. So, substantially, we are able to drive them out of the forests (on the highways).
In recent times, you find out that most of the kidnapping cases we have lately are in the border areas (around Akoko/Ose areas), knowing fully well that we will not operate in Kogi, Edo, so they strike in a place that is closer to Ondo State borders and run away (to neighbouring states), that is the situation now and we are also looking for how to checkmate (the kidnappers and other criminals).
What is your collaboration with other security agencies like Army, Police to checkmate this cross borders crimes?
Generally, you remember that the law setting up the (Amotekun) corps put part of our responsibilities as complimentary services to all security agencies, so in almost all our operations, we ask for their assistance and they have been giving us assistance, so we do most of these operations together and we report to them when we need services (of their men) and they are gladly rendering.
Recently, Ifon has been a black spot in Ondo State, what have you been done to handle this situation, only recently, the APC Secretary in Ose and the Olufon, a first class Monarch were gruesomely killed in the area?
You will observe that around Ifon, there are a number of military checkpoints around the place, so I think the military is trying to checkmate those activities, even though we compliment what they are doing, but you will observe that there are military checkpoints on that road to tackle criminal elements.
What is your advice/appeal to other security agencies that sees Amotekun as a kind of rival?
We see all other conventional security agencies as mothers for Amotekun. Don’t forget Amotekun is a baby of necessity, so they should see us (at Amotekun) as their baby and continue to assist us in stabilizing the security architecture of the State.
Ifon community recently protested peacefully, any assurance or message for them from your agency?
Ose Local Government generally is being identified as a core area where we put our searchlight and we have mapped out security strategies to checkmate the activities of these bad people. Ose local government area has boundary with Edo and Kogi and it offers an easy access way out but we are checkmating them.
