The growing incidence of insecurity across Nigeria has intensified the search for decentralized security arrangements capable of complementing the efforts of conventional law enforcement agencies. In the South-West region, the establishment of the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun, represents a strategic response by state governments to address rising cases of kidnapping, armed robbery, and rural banditry. This study examines the institutional structure and operational arrangements of the Amotekun Corps in Ekiti, Ondo, and Osun States in order to understand how variations in administrative frameworks influence the functioning and effectiveness of the corps. The study adopts a comparative research design and relies on qualitative data obtained from enabling laws, government reports, policy documents, and scholarly publications. Available operational records indicate that since its establishment in 2020, the Amotekun Corps has recruited several thousand personnel across the South-West, with Ondo State alone deploying over 1,500 operatives, while Ekiti and Osun States maintain operational strengths of approximately 1,200 and 1,300 personnel, respectively. Reports from state security briefings further indicate that the corps has assisted in the arrest of several hundred suspected criminals and has supported conventional security agencies in addressing kidnapping and armed robbery incidents within rural and peri-urban communities. Despite operating within a shared regional framework, the findings reveal notable variations in manpower capacity, logistical resources, and administrative structures across the three states. The study concludes that improved institutional coordination, standardized operational frameworks, and sustained investment in personnel training and logistics are necessary to enhance the effectiveness of the Amotekun Corps as a complementary security mechanism in South-West Nigeria.
Adeosun et al. (Mon,) studied this question.