Legal and civil society stakeholders across the Southwest on Wednesday called for the urgent strengthening of the Amotekun Corps to effectively address rising insecurity and promote sustainable development in the region.
The call was made during the National Conference of Egbe Amofin Oodua, held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, under the theme: “Regional Justice, Security, and Sustainable Development.”
Egbe Amofin Oodua is a coalition of Yoruba legal practitioners from Ekiti, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Lagos, and Ondo States, advocating for regional integration through law and policy reform.
Delivering the keynote address, former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Akinlolu Olujinmi (SAN), emphasised the need for renewed inter-state collaboration to reposition the regional security outfit, Amotekun.
“Strengthening Amotekun with coordinated support across the six states is key to combating not just open grazing but other forms of insecurity threatening the Southwest,” Olujinmi said.
He noted that enhanced capacity and empowerment of the corps would improve surveillance, road safety, and community policing across the region.
“By doing so, the states will be creating the right environment for regional justice, security, and sustainable development,” he added.
Olujinmi also advised state governments to invest more in human capital, tackle youth unemployment with firm commitment, and ensure development projects meet local community needs.
Open Grazing Must End – Wahab Shittu
In a paper titled “Combating the Threats of Open Grazing, Terrorism, and the Need for State Police,” renowned legal scholar and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Wahab Shittu, advocated for a ban on open grazing across the Southwest.
He proposed ranching initiatives and peaceful land-sharing agreements between herders and host communities as a way forward.
“We cannot continue to merely lament about insecurity,” Shittu said. “As lawyers, we are best positioned to interpret and reform laws that ensure justice and peace.”
Falana Laments State of Education
Prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), who also spoke at the conference, raised concerns over the deteriorating standard of education in the region.
Falana noted that despite wider access to education, learning outcomes remained poor among students, threatening the future of the region’s development.
A Call for Rule of Law and Shared Prosperity
The conference ended with a collective call for stakeholders to support one another and uphold the rule of law in all engagements.
Olujinmi reminded attendees that the success of Egbe Amofin Oodua as a body depends on the unity and ethical conduct of its members.
He urged the legal community to play a more active role in guiding policy, interpreting reforms, and ensuring justice in the face of the region’s multifaceted challenges.
As insecurity, economic hardship, and youth unemployment continue to dominate public discourse, the Southwest’s legal elite say regional action and legal reforms beginning with Amotekun may offer the bold response the region urgently needs.