Ondo Decides 2024: Amotekun Corps to Provide Security Beyond Polling Centers, Assures Corps Commander Adeleye

Ondo Decides 2024: Amotekun Corps to Provide Security Beyond Polling Centers, Assures Corps Commander Adeleye

As the Ondo State gubernatorial election approaches, just under a month away, security concerns have become a major focus for residents, indigenes, and stakeholders. With a history of maintaining order, the Ondo State Security Network, better known as Amotekun, has committed to bolstering security efforts around the state during this critical period.

In an exclusive interview with the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), led by National President Oki O. Samson, Amotekun Corps Commander Akogun Adetunji Adeleye assured the public that his team will play a critical role in securing Ondo State during and after the election. Adeleye, who also serves as the Chairman of the Southwest Council of Amotekun Corps Commanders, pledged that Amotekun would support traditional security agencies such as the Nigerian Police, Civil Defence, and DSS in maintaining order, while respecting boundaries within the election arena.

“This is not our first election, and we are aware that primary security for elections lies with other agencies,” Adeleye explained. “However, we’ll be positioned along routes and roads to maintain order where other security agencies are not present, ensuring no security vacuum exists.”

He added that Amotekun would offer logistical support during the movement of election materials and collaborate where assistance is required. “Our role is supplementary, but we’ll be vigilant to maintain a peaceful atmosphere across the state,” he affirmed.

Addressing youths, Adeleye emphasized the dangers of political thuggery, urging them not to allow themselves to be used by politicians. "Our youths must be aware that politicians won’t jeopardize their own children’s futures for thuggery. Why should you put yourself at risk for a small sum? If caught, you alone will face the consequences,” he warned.

Adeleye provided insight into the Corps’ rigorous training regimen, highlighting regular security assessments across the state twice daily. Amotekun’s patrols, which operate every day including Sundays, are conducted with high-tech equipment, including drones and tracking devices in collaboration with the DSS.

For Adeleye, commitment is key: “I’m in the office 18 hours a day, visiting senatorial districts across the state to personally oversee operations. There’s no room for lapses within Amotekun, and that’s why Ondo residents can sleep peacefully.”

As the November 16 election draws nearer, Amotekun's commitment to safeguarding Ondo State underscores its role in promoting peace and order, both now and in the future.