Oyo State Amotekun Threatens to Disband Over Five-Year Delay in Appointment Letters
Growing discontent is sweeping through the Oyo State Security Network Agency, better known as Amotekun, as operatives threaten a statewide strike over what they describe as five years of working without formal appointment letters.
The operatives say the situation has left them without job security, welfare structure, or proper recognition despite their frontline role in combating crime across the state.
According to multiple accounts from within the corps, the operatives have been serving since around 2020 without official documentation confirming their employment status.
They argue that the lack of appointment letters has exposed them to irregular conditions, including the absence of a rank system, promotions, or the allowances promised during their recruitment. Some described the work environment as “slavery-like,” noting that they are treated more like temporary staff than security personnel.
The operatives accuse key figures in the agency of stalling the process, including Governor Seyi Makinde, the Board Chairman, retired AIG Sikiru Akande, and the State Commandant, Colonel Olayinka Olayanju (Rtd.).
They allege that the commandant had personally blocked the issuance of letters since 2021, supposedly favouring “veteran operatives” and using internal divisions to justify the delay.
They are also calling for the dissolution of the current Amotekun board, insisting that the leadership has failed to show transparency—particularly regarding funds claimed to have been collected from local governments over the past five years.
The operatives want the Oyo State House of Assembly to intervene by visiting Amotekun offices across the 33 local government areas to hear their grievances directly.
Beyond the internal tensions, community stakeholders, including traditional rulers, community leaders, and legal practitioners, have raised concerns over the welfare of Amotekun personnel.
During a recent review of the Amotekun Law, they recommended a formal welfare structure, including pension, severance benefits, and a clearer operational framework to protect and motivate the operatives.
The threat of a strike, however, raises broader security concerns. Amotekun plays a crucial role in responding to local crime and supporting federal security agencies in Oyo State.
A withdrawal of their services could heighten insecurity, a risk the operatives themselves highlighted as they pressed their demands.
As the tension builds, all eyes are on the Oyo State Government to see whether it will address the long-running grievances or allow the situation to escalate into a work stoppage that could disrupt security operations across the state.
