Afenifere Celebrates UN’s Declaration Of 7 July As World Amotekun Day.
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has expressed immense delight following the United Nations’ declaration of 7 July as World Amotekun Day, hailing it as a landmark achievement for the South-West’s security initiative. The announcement, made public last week, recognises the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, for its significant contributions to regional safety and security.
In a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, in Ibadan, Afenifere described the UN’s recognition as a historic milestone and a testament to the vision and resilience of those who established and sustained Amotekun. The certification, presented to the Ondo State Amotekun Corps Commandant, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, by Ambassador Peer Stafsen of the World Peace Organisation, an affiliate of the UN, underscores the corps’ alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in promoting peace, safety, and human rights.
Amotekun, launched on 9 January 2020 by the governors of Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo states, emerged from a regional security summit in June 2019, spearheaded by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission. Despite initial resistance from the Federal Government under former President Muhammadu Buhari, the South-West governors, led by the late Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, persevered to establish the corps, which has since reduced banditry, supported farmers, and enhanced highway safety across the region.
The UN’s recognition grants Amotekun the opportunity to collaborate with various UN agencies, including the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, and bodies addressing human trafficking and gender-based violence. The corps will also attend the UN’s annual general meeting in New York on 22 September 2025, marking the organisation’s 80th anniversary.
Afenifere praised the late Governor Akeredolu for his pivotal role in Amotekun’s formation and urged South-West governors to capitalise on this global endorsement by equipping the corps with advanced resources to enhance its effectiveness. The organisation also renewed its call for state police, arguing that regional security outfits like Amotekun are vital for tackling Nigeria’s security challenges. This recognition, Afenifere noted, is not only a victory for the Yoruba people but a beacon of hope for indigenous security solutions across Africa.