Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has cautioned that the increasing wave of banditry and kidnappings in neighbouring Kwara State could extend into Osun State if the police refused to open offices of the state’s Amotekun Corps.
The governor appealed to the police authorities to promptly reopen the local security offices, stressing that Amotekun’s presence was crucial for tackling growing security concerns, particularly in rural border communities.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, and made available to journalists in Osogbo on Friday.
Speaking on the recent abduction reported in the Ora-Igbomina area, Adeleke said Osun’s ability to respond to security challenges had been severely weakened due to the closure of Amotekun offices and the detention of senior operatives without trial.
He explained that the corps had built considerable capacity in addressing security threats, especially across rural and border locations, noting that halting its operations had left a gap now being exploited by criminal elements.
The governor urged the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to either prosecute the detained Amotekun personnel over the alleged killings in Akinlalu community or release them, while also calling for the immediate reopening of the corps’ offices.
Adeleke warned that any continued delay could place rural residents at greater risk and allow criminal activities to spread into the state.
“I am taking this matter to the public domain in view of another kidnapping at Ora-Igbomina. Closing down Amotekun exposes the Osun people to serious risks.
“I call on the Inspector-General of Police to unseal Amotekun and allow its operatives to secure my people across the grassroots.
“Those officers in detention should be charged to court after several months of incarceration. Any further delay in the unsealing of Amotekun will further jeopardise the safety and security of our people”, the governor said.
Amotekun Corps has remained largely inactive within Osun’s security framework following the alleged invasion of Akinlalu community by some of its operatives, during which residents were reportedly shot dead.
The incident, which occurred on September 30, 2025, reportedly left at least three residents dead.
In the aftermath, several members of the corps, including the state commander, Adekunle Omoyele, were arrested by the police and subsequently transferred to Abuja.
