OGHA to Abiodun: Restructure Amotekun, appoint new commander

The Ogun State House of Assembly on Thursday asked Governor Dapo Abiodun to restructure the Amotekun Corps in view of the ceaseless kidnapping cases across the state.

The assembly also asked him to appoint a new commander for the security outfit, barely nine months after the death of the former boss, Dave Akinremi.

Akinremi died in June 2023 and Abiodun is yet to appoint a replacement.

Akinremi was appointed in 2021 by Governor Dapo Abiodun as the pioneer commander of the newly established Amotekun Corps.

The house on Thursday passed a resolution calling on the state government to reposition the outfit for effectiveness in securing the lives and properties of residents.

Opening debate on the motion leading to the passage of the resolution during the plenary presided over by Speaker Oludaisi Elemide, the sponsor of the resolution, Hon. Babatunde Tella, reported that the ineffectiveness of the Amotekun corps followed the demise of the state commander, CP David Akinremi.

Tella noted the new state commander should not be below the rank of a major or its equivalence in other security agencies.

Other members who contributed to the debate including Olusegun Kaka, Adebisi Oyedele Minority Leader Lukman Adeleye, Adegoke Adeyanju and Fola Salami, recounted incidences of insecurity, especially kidnappings in their respective constituencies, which needed to be addressed headlong.

The debate later led to the motion for the resolution moved by the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sheriff, seconded by the Minority Leader, Adeleye Lukman and supported by the whole house through a unanimous voice vote.