A retired senior military intelligence officer and former Chairman of the Oyo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun, Brigadier-General Kunle Togun (retd.), has raised concerns over the operational strategy of the regional security outfit, insisting that effective security requires active patrols, intelligence gathering, and technological surveillance rather than the mere deployment and parking of patrol vehicles.
The Saki-born former Deputy Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS) and former Director of Military Intelligence made the remarks while reflecting on efforts to address growing insecurity, kidnapping, and criminal activities across Oyo State and the wider South-West region.
Togun disclosed that during his tenure and involvement in security planning, he had submitted detailed recommendations on strategic locations requiring surveillance, patrol operations, and permanent security presence, but lamented that many of his proposals were allegedly ignored.
According to him, security architecture must be built around intelligence-led operations rather than static deployments that expose security personnel to attacks and limit their effectiveness.
“I gave them all the places they needed to patrol, all the places they needed 12-hour guards, and all the places they were supposed to station 24-hour guards. I gave them everything,” he stated.
The retired general argued that simply purchasing operational vehicles does not automatically translate into improved security outcomes, stressing that patrol teams should be continuously moving through identified flashpoints and vulnerable routes instead of remaining stationary by roadsides.
He warned that parked security vehicles could become vulnerable targets for criminal gangs and kidnappers, who may exploit predictable deployment patterns to launch attacks.
“Buying vehicles is not security. While travelling to Lagos, you must have seen Amotekun vehicles parked by the roadside. Is that patrol?” he queried.
Togun emphasized the growing importance of technology in modern security operations, noting that intelligence-driven surveillance systems can help identify criminal hideouts and support military and law enforcement agencies in executing precision operations.
According to him, modern technological tools can significantly improve the ability of security agencies to locate criminal elements and disrupt their activities before they strike.
“They have to use modern technology to identify the location of these people. It will assist the military operating in the state to know where to strike. You catch the terrorists by surprise. Surprise is a principle of war,” he said.
Beyond operational concerns, the retired military officer expressed disappointment over what he described as the inadequate commitment of South-West governors toward addressing regional security challenges.
He argued that insecurity across the region has persisted not because governors are overwhelmed by the scale of the challenge, but because political interests have allegedly overshadowed security priorities.
In his assessment, the late former Governor of Ondo State and former Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, stood out as the only governor who demonstrated genuine commitment to regional security initiatives.
“The only governor who was truly concerned about security was Rotimi Akeredolu, and he is gone. Yoruba governors are only pursuing politics,” he declared.
Togun recounted the circumstances that led to the conceptualisation of coordinated regional security efforts that eventually culminated in the establishment of Amotekun.
According to him, discussions among retired military officers of Yoruba extraction began out of concern over the worsening security situation in the South-West and the perceived need for a regional response.
He explained that a group of retired senior military officers, including the late Colonel Adeleye Agbede, General Oladayo Popoola, and Colonel Yakubu Anifowose, initiated strategic discussions at the Retired Army, Navy and Air Force Officers’ Mess in Ibadan to develop a comprehensive security threat assessment for the region.
Following extensive consultations and analysis, the group reportedly produced a detailed security report highlighting threats and recommending measures to combat criminality across the South-West.
Togun revealed that the report was subsequently presented to Akeredolu, who was then serving as Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum and showed interest in implementing its recommendations.
He further alleged that copies of the same report were later made available to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and other stakeholders, but that little action was taken on the recommendations.
Reflecting on his relationship with Governor Makinde regarding security matters, the retired brigadier-general stated that although the governor publicly acknowledged the value of his expertise, many of his security recommendations were not adopted.
“What overwhelmed? I was Chairman of Amotekun. I didn’t apply for it. Governor Seyi Makinde said it would be difficult for me not to be invited on matters of security in Oyo State. Did he listen to me?” he asked.
The former intelligence chief also referenced a separate security assessment reportedly conducted by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, which he said was submitted to the current Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, without yielding visible implementation outcomes.
He accused state governments in the region of failing to maximise available resources and security votes to tackle growing threats, insisting that governors, as chief security officers of their respective states, must assume greater responsibility for addressing insecurity.
“About two years ago, the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria conducted an analysis, wrote a report and handed it over to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Till today, no action. They are collecting security votes. They are the number one security officers in their states. How can they be overwhelmed?” he said.
His remarks come amid renewed concerns over incidents of kidnapping, armed attacks, and criminal activities in parts of Oyo State and the wider South-West, with security experts increasingly calling for intelligence-driven strategies, stronger inter-agency collaboration, and improved deployment of technology to combat emerging security threats.
