South West State Governors comprising, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti have launched Western Nigerian Security Network, also known as AMOTEKUN (meaning Leopard) to compliment the effort of the national security forces as a form of community police in the region.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State hosted the other State Governors in Ibadan to commemorate the launch of the organization. Each State donated 20 vehicles, making it a total of 120 in the fleet. The plan for this security force is for each State to fund and recruit troops based on her capacity and level of security threat. The idea is to garner support from neighbouring State Amotekun troops whenever there is a threat.
Many Nigerians see this as a welcomed initiative with hopes that it will increase security in the region and draw the country closer to adopting community policing. Some have even gone further to call for the reinstatement of the once popular famous ‘Bakassi Boys’ in the South East, while the Northern region seems to be gearing up to imitate their counterparts in the South West.