As Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore deploys its vigilantes to protect herdsmen and their cows across the country, heads of regional security network in Southwest states, codenamed ‘Operation Amotekun’ have warned that the Miyetti Allah's vigilante group will not be welcomed in any of the southwest states.
The Miyetti Allah Vigilance group was formally launched on July 25, while its operatives currently undergoing training are scheduled to be deployed across 36 states of the country any moment from now, according to their leader, Bello Abdullahi Bodejo.
In Oyo state, Gen Ajibola ‘Kunle Togun (retd), the Chairman of Amotekun Corps, declared that the outfit will not cooperate or work with the Miyetti Allah vigilante group under any guise. The former Director, Directorate of Military Intelligence and ex-Deputy Director-General of the State Security Service, told Saturday Sun in Ibadan, that Miyetti Allah is not the Federal Republic of Nigeria that has the power to deploy security personnel across the country.
Togun stated that deploying vigilance group across the country by a non-state actor is illegal and rubbish, adding that the people of Oyo State and indeed other southwest states do not want Miyetti Allah security operatives. According to him, Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Adegboyega Oyetola(Osun), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), and Babajide Sanwo-Olu(Lagos), would not toy with the idea of welcoming Miyetti Allah vigilantes to their states. I have no business with Miyetti Allah Vigilantes. They are not a state. So, how can they come and have vigilantes across the country? As far as I am concerned, that is illegal, and I am not going to cooperate with them. Of course, I don’t think my governor, the governor of Oyo State, and I don’t think any governor in the South West is going to have them in their states”, he stated.
Would he prefer the Miyetti Allah vigilantes restrict their operations to the north and stay off southwest? He answered: “I am not going to comment on that; that is not my business. As far as I am concerned, I don’t think any governor in Yoruba states is going to welcome Miyetti Allah vigilantes in their states. If any other state agrees with them, good luck to them.”
When asked what he would do if the Miyetti Allah insists on deploying its vigilantes to Oyo and other states in the South West, Togun stated: “No governor in Yorubaland is going to allow them. How can they insist? The owners of the state don’t want them. How can they insist? Who are they? Are they government? They have no cause to do all the rubbish they are doing.”
In Osun, the Director General of Operation Amotekun, Comrade Amitolu Shittu told Saturday Sun that the deployment of Miyeti Allah vigilantes is a welcome development provided they will not operate beyond their boundaries in the South West.
Shittu said “there is nothing wrong with their deployment as long as the mission is to strengthen the security of lives and property. What we don’t want in the South West is hooliganism and vandalism and if at any time it is discovered that the Miyetti Allah vigilantes are frustrating our people, we will stop their operation. I am of the view that their own vigilante group will help prevent cattle rusting, kidnapping and rape which reign most in the north. It is also my belief that their own vigilante will help prevent invasion of our farmlands by cattle belonging to Fulani herdsmen. I will encourage them to operate in the states of the South West, but with caution. They must adhere strictly to all our rules, especially the rules guiding security in the South West and also function in line with our dictates.
“However, failure to adhere to the rules will be dangerous, counter productive and tantamount to abuse of our security system. And, this we shall resist as a people of common interests. We want unity in Nigeria, but this should not be on the alter of disrespect for our own people.” Although the Director General of Ondo State Security Network also known as Operation Amotekun, Mr Adetunji Adeleye said he was not aware of the launch of the Miyeti Allah vigilante group, he however said the state will act in line with other South West states on the matter.
His counterpart in Ekiti State, Brig-Gen. Joe Komolafe (rtd), said, ” if the aim of the launching of their Miyetti Allah vigilantes is in tandem with our own operation then we will cooperate, but if it is not in tandem, there is no way we can cooperate. If what they are launching is in tandem with our own operation then there is no problem, all we are after is peace and security.”