The Implications of Operation Amotekun Regional Security Outfit on the Maintenance of National Integration in Nigeria

• Published in: African renaissance Vol. 2024; no. si1; pp. 311 - 329
• Main Authors: Joseph, Adekeye Adeshola, Ikedinma, Hope Amoge, Oluwatobi, O. Adeyemi, Josephine, Mudau Thizwilondi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London. United Kingdom Sabinet Online 01.08.2024; Adonis & Abbey Publishers Ltd
• Subjects: Governors; Legislation; NGOs; Nongovernmental organizations; Peaceful coexistence; Professionalism; Regional security; Security management; Transparency; Nigeria
• ISSN: 1744-2532; 2516-5305
• DOI: 10.31920/2516-5305/2024/sin2a13

This paper examines the implications of Operation Amotekun on the maintenance of national integration in Nigeria. The main objective of the study is to assess the rationale, positive, and negative outcomes of setting up a regional security outfit on the continuous existence of Nigeria as a nation. The data for this study were obtained through secondary sources of data collection. These sources include the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, newspaper publications, bulletins, magazines, journal, and reports from non-governmental organisations such as Amnesty International, the Red Cross, and Transparency International on internal security situations. The findings of the paper revealed that the failure of security agencies to guarantee the security of lives and property of average citizens was largely responsible for the formation of regional security outfits such as Operation Amotekun in order to complement the efforts of already existing security apparatus provided by the federal government. However, appropriate legislation must be put in place in order to ensure that the activities of regional security outfits do not constitute a threat to the maintenance of national integration due to the overbearing influence of the respective state governors on their operations. It is therefore recommended that regional security outfits work in synergy with already existing security agencies in order to ensure professionalism, national cohesion, observance of the rules of engagement, and peaceful coexistence in the long run.