Kunle Togun, former Oyo Amotekun boss, says warnings on bandit infiltration ignored as abductions escalate in region

Brigadier-General Kunle Togun (retd.), former Deputy Director-General of the State Security Service and ex-Chairman of the Oyo State Amotekun Corps, has accused governors in the South-West geopolitical zone of playing politics with security issues, warning that persistent inaction is worsening insecurity across the region. Togun made these remarks in an interview on Wednesday, following a series of abductions targeting teachers and students in Oyo State and neighbouring areas.

According to Togun, the security threat facing Yoruba communities has been evident since 2014 when he first raised alarm at a lecture organised by the Yoruba Council of Elders in Ibadan. He stated that repeated warnings about infiltration by bandits and insurgents have largely gone unheeded by political leaders and traditional institutions. “I have been shouting, I have been complaining to people, but nobody listened,” Togun said, referencing his background in military intelligence and regional security coordination.

The ex-Amotekun chairman criticised what he described as a lack of decisive action from both state governments and socio-cultural groups like the Yoruba Council of Elders. He recounted instances where communities in Kwara and Kogi States faced attacks, yet local leaders distanced themselves from their Yoruba heritage instead of uniting to address security challenges. “You sit down, organise lectures… but you are not taking action,” he said, lamenting what he sees as a gap between analysis and implementation.

Togun also argued that political considerations are undermining efforts to build an effective regional response to insecurity. He noted that despite establishing outfits like Amotekun, state governments have not fully empowered these agencies or provided adequate resources for them to function optimally. Security experts within the region have echoed similar concerns over funding shortfalls and lack of coordinated intelligence sharing among South-West states.

With incidents of kidnapping and attacks on schools increasing in Oyo State and other parts of the South-West, Togun urged political leaders to prioritise citizens’ safety above partisan interests. As at press time, no official response had been issued by any South-West governor regarding Togun’s criticisms. Observers say that unless urgent steps are taken to strengthen community policing and foster collaboration between states, insecurity could further escalate ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Source: https://punchng.com/swest-governors-playing-politics-with-security-ex-dmi-chief-togun/