Aketi is dead and left behind many legacies ( both good and bad). However, Amotekun is reputed by haters and admirers as one of his greatest legacies.
At its inception, I had the opportunity to be the unofficial publicist to assist my friend and Commander, Chief Adeleye. He repaid me by picking my calls and sending his boys to distressed persons or areas anytime I called.
In 2019, he sent his officers to Osi Community and commanded them on phone when a horde of Fulani herdsmen were leading over 2000 cows with more than 30 men. I alerted him, he sent his men. Those people said they were on their way to Edo State.
On another occasion some herdsmen from the Shasha market invaded my friends farm in Osi again and ate his farm. I called the attention of the Commander and he said we should demand compensation. The head of the Hausa/Fulani community from Shaha came and paid the compensation. Around same period, a childhood friend of mine who retires from Elephant cement and invested his life savings on palm tree plantation at Uso had the problems of these herders..I informed the Commander and moved his.mwn to the area. It had abated
Last year, some bands were noticed around my father’s farm in Ose local government. I called the Commander and he gave instructions that the heads of their operations in the Northern Senatorial Sector based in Ikare should mobilise his people across Akoko and Ose and storm the place. They went along with drones. Unfortunately, the information did not reach them in good time. They would have met them there and arrest them. By what was met on ground, it gives signs of kidnappers who used the place as a base for some days.
I have other examples of the exploits, the efficiency and effectiveness of the security outfit. More importantly , they do not take bribes no matter how small or big.
Sometimes ago, I learnt that herders invaded the farm of a Celestial clergyman and ate everything. They met the herders who were trying to show power. The man reported and the cows were arrested. I intervened but my intervention was needless as the man got compensated before the cows were released. This is a testimony to Chief Adeleye and his team. I guess that was in the Aketi years.
Early in the year, I got an information that some ” kidnappers” were arrested with many dogs and detained at Okitipupa. They were arrested in Akoko. I did my findings and confirmed it was true. But pronto, I was informed when those people were.released based on a ” padi-padi ” arrangement by some powerful northern governors and our Oga here It was painful but I could not do anything so that I won’t be accused of playing politics. But it was a fact that those people snd their dogs were released based on give and take mode.
About two weeks ago, I was in a car with some friends along Osi road through the Express. The road was blocked with over a thousand cows. We came down to ask them to direct their cows from the road they said ” no English”. None of us understand Hausa. We demonstrated what we wanted them to do, yet, they pretended not to understand. I now said we would all Amotekun, it was at this point one of them spoke English and said, ” go and call them”. They were incensed and care less. If it were before, they would take to flight.
As if this was not enough, I was in my farm in Idoani yesterday, right there in my farm, I met over two hundred cows eating away. I was surprised. I could not do anything for two reasons. One, the herders was nowhere to be found. Two, there was no network to call anyone, whether Chief Adeleye who I always call or he would direct his men in Ose. Even the men in Ose are already overstretched. My crops was invaded and I could not do anything. I returned back to Akure dejected, disappointed, surprised and angry. I was helpless.
I have not been able to hold myself to confront this menace and loss. Unbeknown to me, a dày before my trip to the farm, I heard what happened at Igoba and how those fellows caused a standoff yet the army was unable to do anything.
Chief Adeleye had been doing a great job before. What is happening? What about the law concerning cows roaming the street, what of underaged children leading them? What are we afraid of or what is the benefit and who is the beneficiary of this laxity. If Fulani herders could block road in broad daylight to challenge Police and the army, what will they not do in the bushes?
More than money, Amotekun must be allowed to do their job and they must be protected. They should not be under any watchlist or instruction. The reason Amotekun under Chief Adeleye and Doyin Odebowale succeeded in his own area was because, Aketi gave them the needed support and gave them the wing to fly.
I have been hearing stories of the rot creeping into AMOTEKUN. The motivation for the job is receding. We must support the government to succeed on this Amotekun for the good of all.
Amotekun must not die like Aketi died. We must support Amotekun to protect our people. I have seen the source of the hunger in the land. Our bushes are crawling with herders and their cows.
We need help.
