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A fresh controversy has erupted within the Osun State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun Corps, as its pioneer Director-General, Amitolu Shittu, and current Commander, High Chief Adekunle Isaac Omoyele, trade words over the integrity and recruitment practices of the state’s security outfit.
Shittu, who served under former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, on Saturday accused the present leadership of the Corps of “criminal infiltration” through what he described as a compromised recruitment process that allegedly allowed cultists, ex-convicts, and drug addicts into the ranks of Amotekun operatives.
Speaking with journalists in Osogbo, Shittu claimed that the current administration under Commander Omoyele had eroded public confidence in the outfit, alleging that several of the newly recruited personnel were terrorising communities across the state.
“The current State Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Isaac Omoyele, recruited all manner of criminals into the corps — cultists, ritualists, ex-convicts, hard drug users and dealers. They must be subjected to fresh profiling by the security agencies,” Shittu alleged.
The former Amotekun boss went further to accuse Omoyele of personalising the agency and diverting operatives to duties outside their legal mandate.
“Those recruits are now terrorising the state. Were they screened by the police and DSS? Do we have their records? The killings in Akinlalu are just one of the several crimes those in Amotekun are now committing. Amotekun Corps are not engaged as guards. Very terrible,” he said.
He urged Governor Ademola Adeleke to order an independent investigation into the recruitment process and to prosecute both the Commander and any personnel found culpable.
But in a swift reaction, Commander Omoyele dismissed Shittu’s allegations as “politically motivated, malicious, and baseless.”
In a statement released through the Corps’ spokesperson, Idowu Yusuf, and later expanded in a personal response, Omoyele said the claims were aimed at smearing his image and distracting the Corps from its security mission.
“Calls for my sack appear to be driven by political sentiment, personal grievances, or attempts to destabilise the reputation and ongoing operations of the Corps,” he said.
Omoyele, who was appointed under the administration of Governor Adeleke, stated that his leadership had inherited a “deplorable and unstructured” Amotekun Corps from Shittu and immediately embarked on reforms to professionalise and reposition it for effective community policing.
“Upon my assumption of office, Osun Amotekun lacked structure and discipline. We introduced proper training, retraining, and accountability mechanisms. Today, we have a functional headquarters, standard operational protocols, and improved coordination,” Omoyele said.
He added that the recruitment process under his watch was “transparent and merit-based”, insisting that all applicants underwent physical screening, medical evaluation, and background checks, including verification by royal fathers, clergy, or senior civil servants.
“Any insinuation of irregularity in recruitment is false and a disservice to the dedicated men and women risking their lives daily. We make no compromises when it comes to the integrity of our personnel,” he stressed.
Taking a swipe at Shittu, Omoyele accused the ex-DG of lacking security experience and being responsible for several operational blunders during his tenure, including alleged cases of misfiring by operatives and unreturned operational vehicles.
“He just jumped into security management without any professional background. Records at Zone XI show that his men were frequently dragged for operational misconduct. He was even accused of withholding two Amotekun vehicles that are yet to be recovered,” Omoyele alleged.
Omoyele vowed not to be distracted by “bitter politics and personal vendettas.”
“The Amotekun Corps is not a political tool. It is a lawful, community-based security network committed to complementing conventional agencies. We remain focused on securing Osun State with professionalism, courage, and transparency,” he concluded.
The renewed war of words comes amid growing tension over recent security incidents in the state, including the killing of three residents by alleged Amotekun operatives in Akinlalu, Ife North Local Government Area.
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