Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on Friday warned that insecurity spreading from Kwara State could extend into Osun if the police continue to keep the state’s Amotekun Corps offices shut, calling for urgent action to address the situation.
The warning came in Osogbo, where the governor, through a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said the sealing of Amotekun offices had weakened Osun’s ability to respond to banditry and kidnapping, especially in rural and border communities.
Adeleke spoke while reacting to a recent kidnapping incident in the Ora-Igbomina area, explaining that the state’s security response had been limited because Amotekun operatives were not allowed to operate. He said the corps had built experience in handling security challenges in remote areas, and its absence had left gaps now being exploited by criminals.
The governor appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to order the immediate reopening of Amotekun offices across the state. He also asked the police authorities to either take the detained Amotekun officers to court over allegations linked to the Akinlalu community incident or release them, noting that they had been held for several months without trial.
According to Adeleke, delaying action could expose rural dwellers to more attacks and allow criminal activities to cross into Osun from neighbouring states, particularly Kwara, where cases of banditry and kidnapping have been reported.
Amotekun operations in Osun were largely halted following an alleged incident in the Akinlalu community in September 2025, during which some residents were reportedly killed. After the incident, several operatives, including the state commander, Adekunle Omoyele, were arrested and taken to Abuja by the police.
The governor said restoring Amotekun’s operations was necessary to strengthen grassroots security and protect residents from further threats.
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