Juliet Oladele, Reporting
BRIGADIER-GENERAL Kunle Togun (retd.), a former Deputy Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), has called for a strategic overhaul of security operations in the South-West, urging operatives of the Amotekun Corps to focus on active patrols of identified flashpoints rather than stationing vehicles by the roadside.
Togun, a former Director of Military Intelligence and ex-Chairman of the Oyo State Amotekun Corps, made the remarks while speaking on measures needed to tackle the growing menace of kidnapping and insecurity in the region.
According to him, merely acquiring security vehicles does not translate into effective security operations.
“I gave them all the places they needed to patrol, all the places they needed 12-hour guards, and all the places they were supposed to station 24-hour guards. I gave them everything,” he said.
The retired brigadier-general warned that security personnel who remain stationed in fixed locations could themselves become targets for criminals.
“The kidnappers can gang up and attack them where they are parked. They have to use modern technology to identify the location of these people. It will assist the military operating in the state to know where to strike. You catch the terrorists by surprise. Surprise is a principle of war,” he stated.
Questioning the effectiveness of current deployment strategies, Togun said motorists travelling between major South-West cities frequently encounter Amotekun vehicles parked along highways rather than conducting active patrols.
“While travelling to Lagos, you must have seen Amotekun vehicles parked by the roadside. Is that patrol?” he asked.
The retired intelligence officer also accused South-West governors of placing politics above security concerns, arguing that only the late former Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, demonstrated genuine commitment to regional security.
“The only governor who was truly concerned about security was Rotimi Akeredolu, and he is gone. Yoruba governors are only pursuing politics,” he said.
Togun rejected suggestions that governors in the region had become overwhelmed by security challenges, insisting that they had failed to utilise available resources effectively.
“They are collecting security votes. They are the number one security officers in their states. How can they be overwhelmed? They receive security votes, yet they are not paying attention to security,” he said.
Recounting the origins of the Amotekun initiative, Togun disclosed that a group of retired military officers from the South-West had conducted an extensive security threat assessment for the region after becoming concerned about worsening insecurity.
He said the group, which included retired Army, Navy and Air Force officers, prepared a comprehensive security analysis that was later presented to Akeredolu when he served as Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum.
According to Togun, Akeredolu embraced the initiative and showed strong interest in implementing its recommendations before ill health eventually overtook him.
He further revealed that copies of the report were also given to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and, later, to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in his capacity as Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum.
However, Togun lamented that the recommendations had not been implemented.
“About two years ago, the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria conducted an analysis, wrote a report and handed it over to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who is the current chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum. Till today, no action,” he said.
The retired security chief maintained that stronger intelligence gathering, technology-driven operations and proactive patrols remain critical to curbing kidnapping and restoring security across the South-West.
