THE EVOLUTION AND INVOLVEMENT OF LOCAL HUNTERS IN STATE SECURITY
ABSTRACT
Insecurity has been a major concern for all and sundry across Nigeria as a nation. The prevalence of these security threats in various forms has now rendered the efforts of the federal government fruitless in addressing this menace. This has culminated in establishing different local security networks among states in the country to informally arrest the situation of insecurity in their respective region. As a result, this paper attempts to investigate the roles of Western security network outfits in state building as well as the challenges this regional security architecture faces in preventing violence and criminality in the southwest region. It also examines the public reaction towards the existence of the outfit. The work rests on the theoretical assumptions of structural functionalism to explain the problem and why it persists in the country. Data for the research work was gathered from both primary and secondary sources. However, the primary data was collected through an in-depth one-on-one, semi-structured interview with 30 respondents purposely selected—the secondary included library sources, journals, textbooks, and articles. The data was analyzed with Atlas ti computer software and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was employed to analyze the socio-demographic information of the participants respectively. The findings discovered that the southwestern security initiative has contributed immensely to crime reduction and the peaceful coexistence of various ethnic nationalities in the region. In the same vein, the finding revealed that the security network has equally been coping with problems of public misconception, inadequate equipment as well and duty clashes with personnel of the Nigerian police force. The findings concluded that if the outfit is well-equipped and funded, the rate of violent conflict in the region will be drastically reduced. The paper made some recommendations that if adopted by the relevant stakeholders would go a long way to enhance the effectiveness of the Western security network.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Nigeria as a nation has been faced with divers of insecurities and security threats such as Boko haram insurgency, kidnapping, armed robbery, violent clashes between the herders and farmers, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons as well as bandit attacks. All these have served as a serious threat to the peace and stability of the whole nation as well as the livelihood of the Nigerian citizens. It is not uncommon to hear different cases of killings, rape, burglary, theft, and other forms of criminality among the Nigerian populace. Although the security of the lives and properties of the citizens is the primary responsibility of the government, the current insecurity plaguing the Nigerian nation has certainly defied the capacity and competence of the conventional security apparatuses in the country (Thaddeus, 2020). The changing dimension of these security threats has necessitated policing to be the function of both state and non-state actors to stem the tide of violent crimes. This has made the community members resort to different security measures to protect their lives from possible attacks.
Prof Ise Sagay (SAN), the chairman of, the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption (PAAC), emphasizes the need for a regional or local security network by explaining that it would be too unwise of a whole nation to rely on the federal government for the provision of security of our lives and properties but we should also deem it fit to talk about more reliance on the local security initiatives. He further asserted that it is those who feel the agony of the pain that should take control of their security measures. It can be pointed out that the Nigerians have long lost confidence and trust in our formal state security apparatus such as the police because of their obnoxious nature, and their repugnant attitudes towards the implementation of their duties. More so, many cases have been reported in the media in which the Nigerian police have been found culpable of committing wanton human rights violations and abuses against innocent citizens. As a result of this, the new regional security structure was formed on this basis to serve as a confidence-building measure in the minds of the people in the region. This initiative is not to work against the national security formations but to support them in operation and play a complementary role in community policing (Vanguard, 2020).
The incapacitation of our formal security architecture such as the police to stem the surging crime dynamics has propelled the community members to resort to various self-help initiatives to secure their lives and shift from the formal ways of enforcing the laws. (Ikuteyojo, 2008).
However, owing to the recurring decimal of these violent crimes such as banditry, kidnapping, vandalism, and farmer and herders contention, this has led to a re-invigoration of the formations of unconventional security approaches to providing protection of lives and properties and combating criminal threats across the nation. In the Eastern part of the country, there was the establishment of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in a bid to clamp down on the insurgency and the rising cases of kidnapping affecting the region. Also, the Hisbah police amid the civilian joint task force in northern Nigeria and other formations in this regard perform similar functions to aid the state security apparatus in battling Boko haram terrorism bedeviling the region. The establishment of all these alternative security organizations is primarily a reaction to security challenges which include unlawful killings, violent attacks, abductions, and rape of young women and married ones by the herdsmen, and armed bandits, all of which constitute a menace to the attainment of national stability of the whole country.
Before the establishment of government, every community in Nigeria had its security system under the traditional administrative setting of each kingdom or in the villages. The security actors in these administrative arrangements perform the role of conflict prevention, crime reduction, and maintenance of law and order all across the communities. For example, in Yoruba land, the Balogun is the head of the warriors and other formations as far as security is concerned. In Igbo land, this formation is also evident among the age-grades who as security guards saddled with the responsibility of maintaining peace and stability in the community. The security structure is more strenuous in Hausa land as a result of the centralized system of their mode of government. Their security outfit is headed by the Galadima. This solidified the influx of informal networks in the internal security system in Nigeria (Odewale & Lamidi, 2020).
Particularly in southwest Nigeria, the most prominent outfit across the communities is the vigilante group and set of Odua Peoples’ Congress (OPC). Despite this outfit, there was a high magnitude in the issues of insecurity and vandalism across the southwest region in
Nigeria. Thus, this required the regional arrangement of the security outfit termed Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) and, at the same time, code-named “Amotekun” in Yoruba, which means leopard. It was brought to operation on 9th January 2020, by the Association of Southwest Governors at Ibadan, Nigeria. It was established to complement the operations of the national security agencies such as police, and NSCDC in tackling criminality in the six western region states namely Ondo, Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, and Ekiti. The outfit was distinguished from other security architecture created by other regions with its characteristics encompassing members of the vigilante groups, factions of the OPC, hunters association, Agbekoya farmers association, Afenifere socio-political organization, and other security experts (Jennifer, 2020). In founding Amotekun as an alternative security arrangement, the architects of this initiative also backed it up with the enactment of laws governing its existence, personnel, and operations through state regulation (This Day
Newspapers, 2021).
However, the launching of this outfit has generated serious controversy and different impressions nationwide. Especially, the major critics of this initiative are largely from the Northern part of the country who have expressed their fears, and as such, described this outfit as monstrous. According to the leader of Miyetti Allah kantaHore in Bauchi state, noted that the Amotekun security outfit is an indigenous and tribalized organization and it was not established within the legal framework. Some also believed that Amotekun was established to execute an attack against the Fulani herders and as a guide to having state police in the Southwest region since the federal government has been hesitant about the establishment of state police. The issue that almost went to the south as regards the launching of the outfit was when the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami proclaimed the outfit as illegal and that its formation does not have any constitutional basis. He further asserted that the Nigerian police force is the only accepted agency to ensure the protection of lives and properties. At the same time, some prominent Nigerians have contested against the statement made by the minister of justice that the creation of this outfit is within the purview of the law. The federal government has also observed that the formation of Amotekun security architecture may directly or indirectly propel the other regions to come up with some initiative thus weakening the nation’s unity (Odewale & Lamidi, 2020).
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
According to the commanders of Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) at Ogbomoso, Oyo State, they stated that part of the challenges the Amotekun security outfit has been wrestling with can be linked to a lack of cooperation, ineffective communication techniques, and adequate support from the community members towards effective discharge of duties by the personnel of Amotekun outfit. Though the initiative was formed to protect the lives and properties of the individuals in the societies, many times, these individuals have been reported to have blocked the road with their vehicles preventing easy access or the infiltration into a scene of the crime by the personnel during operations (Vanguard, 2021).
Other challenges this initiative has been coping with are the issues of the recruitment of untrained personnel and, the lack of effective and sophisticated weapons as this reduces their morale to face the criminals. Also, the unhealthy relationship that persists between the federally owned security apparatus such as the police, NSCDC, and the members of the Amotekun outfit has been reported as another problem to be considered. Numerous cases have been investigated and followed up, and the perpetrators were handed over to the police by the operatives of the Amotekun outfit for prosecution but failed to be brought to book or released by the police. This frustrates the efforts of the Amotekun outfit.
Many researchers have researched the issues surrounding the formation of this regional security network. Jubrin (2020) noted the claim by the federal government that the Amotekun security outfit was not established within the constitutional framework thus illegal and unconstitutional, as declared by the Attorney General of the federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami to the Vanguard newspaper on January 9, 2020.
It is on this background that this research will purport to center its focus on the operational challenges and the effectiveness of the outfit in partnership with the other national security forces and the effort of the community members.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The research questions for this study are:
- What are the challenges faced by the Western security network outfit in the performance of their responsibilities across the region?
- How effective is the Amotekun security outfit in combating insecurities in the southwest region of Nigeria?
- What is the relationship between the Amotekun, community members, and the
national security agencies?
- What are the issues linked to the establishment of the Amotekun security initiative?
1.4 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
This study aims to examine the roles of Western security network outfits in state building. Specific objective includes:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the Amotekun security outfit in tackling insecurities in southwest Nigeria.
- To assess the relationship between the Amotekun security outfit, community, and national security agencies.
- To investigate the issues associated with the formation of the Amotekun security
initiative.
1.6 JUSTIFICATION FOR THE STUDY
This research work will be useful for future academic researchers who may be interested in further researching this or related topics as this research project would provide them with the necessary information and findings needed to form the basis of their research. It will also intensify the existing bodies of literature available for regional and community policing. It will also help in providing deep insights and resolving lingering issues that frequently arise between the individuals in the societies and the security agents in collaboratively guaranteeing a crime-free society. It would provide a rationale for the partnership in community policing and enable them to understand it is every man’s responsibility.
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This research project focuses its attention on the roles of south-western Nigerian security network outfits in state building in Oyo state Nigeria. It is also restricted to the case study of Ogbomoso within the geographical region of Oyo State. This could be limiting in terms of the generalization of the study.
1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
Financial constraint: the study could have been more comprehensive if more areas were included. However, the researcher could not afford the cost involved. Time constraint: the researcher could not finish the study within a recorded time because of the pressure of other academic work on him.
1.9 RESEARCH STRUCTURE
Chapter One looked at the background of the study, statement of the problems, research questions and objectives, justification for the study, the scope of the study, limitations of the study, research structure, and definition of the central concepts. Accordingly, Chapter Two examined the conceptual framework, literature review, and theoretical framework. Chapter three also looked at the research methodology and area of study. Chapter four encompassed the representation of data and analysis. Finally, the last chapter, chapter five contains the summary, conclusion, and recommendations for the study.
1.10 DEFINITION OF TERMS
- SECURITY: Basically, security as a concept can be defined as a feeling of being safe and protected by the individuals in the society from any form of harm, danger, perceived or actual threats. Security necessitates the presence of peace, happiness, and safety as well as the protection of humans, infrastructures, and physical resources, and also, or the non-existence of violence or threats and intimidation to a person’s dignity all of which promote the advancement and sustainable growth of any human community.
- STATE BUILDING: State-building entails the organization, re-organization, and strengthening of public institutions in a particular territory that can render public essentials. State-building entails the organization, re-organization,
and strengthening public institutions in a particular territory that can render public essentials.