Crisis in Ondo Amotekun as Officers Face Sanctions for Seeking Formal Appointment Papers

The Amotekun corps was established in Ondo in 2020 as partof a regional security initiative to combat rising insecurity, like kidnappingand banditry, and has since become a symbol of local empowerment. Modelled after community policing, the outfit recruitslocals, including retired security personnel and civilians, to bolster stateefforts against crime. Yet, beneath its mandate to protect lives and propertylies a brewing crisis over worker rights, formalisation, and accountability. For three operatives — Taiwo Abu, Victor Akinsipe, andJulius Ekujumi — their service has turned into a nightmare. On October 27, 2025, Adetunji Adeleye, commander of thecorps in Ondo, declared them wanted over allegations of gross misconduct,including “breaching oaths of allegiance and secrecy, undermining management,and distracting the agency”. The trio had insisted that their only “crime” was demandingbasic employment documents. These include appointment and confirmation lettersthat would integrate them into the state payroll, ensuring pensions, retirementbenefits, and job security — perks already enjoyed by Amotekun counterparts inOsun, Ekiti, and Ogun states. The controversy went viral after a press briefing whereAdeleye paraded suspected criminals and also accused the officers of being“sponsored” to tarnish the corps’ image. He said Amotekun operates under strict protocols, addingthat identity and warrant cards are only for full government staff, and warnedagainst social media smear campaigns. But the officers, who had served over five years withoutformal papers, painted a picture of retaliation, court sabotage, andlife-threatening encounters. Akinsipe, an ICT expert and drone pilot with the regionalsecurity outfit, shared his side of the story with TheCable. He claimed that the primary reason the corps commanderrefused to release the requested documents was because of his “personalinvolvement in illegally profiting from the outdated system”. ‘LACK OF TRANSPARENCY’Akinsipe alleged that Adeleye oversees a network thatmaintains ghost workers on the payroll and that the commander personallycollects the salaries of over 2,000 of these fictitious employees. “The major problem we are having is ghost workers. The totalstrength of Ondo state Amotekun as we stand is 1,186. But I was told that thecommander is collecting salaries for 3,500 people,” he alleged. “He says that our strength is 3,500, which means he iscollecting the remuneration of more than 2,000 people. So, he knows that if weare issued a formal letter, the government is going to have a headcount of theagency, and they will know our total strength.” Akinsipe said their demands began with peaceful meetings. Hesaid, on October 17, 2025, they submitted requests for the letters and providedcopies from other states: Osun (issued 2020), Ekiti (2021), and Ogun (2021,including confirmation and payroll integration). “We gathered all these copies and presented them to thecommander. We sent this copy to the governor, to the head of service, SSA onsecurity, and to the speaker, even to the attorney-general,” he said. According to him, a second meeting on October 23 at theSenior Staff Club in Akure, the state capital, turned chaotic. Akinsipe, Abu,and Julius were discussing with six assistant commanders when two vans arrived. “The same person (Adeleye) who called for a peaceful meetingused the peaceful meeting as bait,” Akinsipe recounted. He said that as he was approached by the men in the van, hefled but was attacked and injured before he could leave the staff club. “I was the main target because I was the one writing to thegovernor and the head of service,” he added. Adesipe said the three of them escaped to the governor’soffice, reported to the SSA on security, but the governor was absent, and thedeputy governor didn’t meet with them because he was in a meeting. Undeterred, they sued Amotekun and Adeleye at the Ondo statehigh court, arguing that placing them on the wanted list lacked a court order.They also alleged procedural sabotage by the state government via theattorney-general’s office. “For almost a month, we were not given a hearing date untilour lawyer petitioned the attorney-general,” Akinsipe said. “For about three times now, the Ondo state Amotekun lawyershave refused to show up in court.” Akinsipe said the personal toll of the ordeal on his lifeand that of his family is profound. Declared wanted the day his wife gave birth, he missed hisnewborn’s naming ceremony and has been on the run since then. “Till this present time, I have been hiding because I do nothave freedom of movement. My family is falling apart. Right now, I am losinghope and faith. My strength is gone,” Akinsipe said. Abu’s ordeal is even more harrowing, marked by gunshots andfamily disruption. In a video shared on his Facebook page, Abu showed a T-shirtfilled with “bullet holes”. He said after escaping from the staff club, he was trailedto his house, where he had to flee and leave his young wife behind. I

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