The South-West Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun Corps, has intensified its efforts to tackle the growing menace of banditry and criminal activities in the region.
The urgency of Amotekun’s operations is underscored by alarming crime statistics.
A National Bureau of Statistics survey revealed that between May 2023 and April 2024, Nigerians paid over two trillion naira in ransom for kidnappings.
The South-West region alone recorded 6.9 million crime incidents during this period.
To this end, the corps has mobilised over 2,000 personnel with recruitment drives ongoing across the states of Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti to strengthen the corps’ operational capacity.
Ogun and Osun states lead the initiative, with plans to recruit 1,000 personnel each. Oyo State recently recruited 480 forest rangers in October, who have since been deployed across 25 local government areas to address kidnapping, banditry, and other illegal activities in forested areas.
Amotekun commanders in the region have confirmed the targeted recruitment as part of a broader strategy to fortify the South-West against the rising influx of bandits and criminals.
