A civil society organisation, the Initiative for Youth Development and Peace Advocacy, IYDPA, has questioned the alleged deployment of Osun Amotekun Corps operatives to a private energy facility in Ondo State, while the security outfit has dismissed the claims as false and politically motivated.
The controversy centres on allegations that personnel of the Osun Amotekun Corps were stationed at Pacific Energy Company in Omotosho Village, Ondo State, a facility reportedly owned by Dr Deji Adeleke, elder brother of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.
In a statement issued in Osogbo, IYDPA called on the Osun State Government to provide a full explanation regarding the alleged deployment of operatives outside the state.
The organisation, through its Director General, Abdulrahman Al Amin, and spokesperson, Akinwale Kehinde, alleged that no fewer than 50 Amotekun operatives were assigned to the facility located along the Benin/Ore Road.
According to the group, the reported deployment raises concerns about the priorities of the government at a time when many communities in Osun State continue to face security challenges, including kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminal activities.
“The people of Osun deserve to know why a security outfit funded by taxpayers is allegedly being used to protect a private commercial enterprise outside the state while insecurity remains a concern in many communities,” the statement said.
IYDPA further argued that the Amotekun Corps was established to complement conventional security agencies in protecting lives and property within Osun State and should not be diverted to assignments beyond its jurisdiction.
The organisation also expressed concern over reports that one of the operatives allegedly deployed to the facility sustained severe injuries in an accident while travelling to Ondo State and was not adequately supported afterwards, a situation it claimed resulted in the officer’s death.
Responding to the allegations, the Osun Amotekun Corps issued a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Yusuf Idowu Abass, rejecting the claims in their entirety and describing them as false, baseless and misleading.
The Corps said it had not deployed 50 operatives or any of its personnel to a power plant in Ondo State and maintained that the allegations were aimed at dragging the security outfit into political controversy.
“The Corps describes the allegation as entirely false, baseless, misleading, and incapable of withstanding any objective scrutiny,” the statement said.
Amotekun stated that it is a security institution established by law to protect lives and property across Osun State and does not serve the interests of any political party, individual, private organisation or business entity.
The Corps said the “officers whose names were reportedly linked to the allegations were carrying out their lawful duties at its headquarters in Osogbo and other designated locations within the state.”
It added that “all personnel remained on operational standby and active duty in Osun during the period in question and that no deployment outside the state occurred.
“The claim that 50 operatives were mobilised outside the state is completely fabricated and unsupported by facts. Reports of an officer being involved in an accident while travelling to Ondo State were also “false and fictitious.”
The security outfit urged members of the public to disregard the allegations and reaffirmed its commitment to neutrality, professionalism and the protection of lives and property across Osun State.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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