Operations Amotekun – Is It Valid Under Nigerian Constitution?

1.0. OPERATION AMOTEKUN

The Western Nigeria Security Network code named Operation Amotekun has been described as a regional "security formation" or "outfit" set up to complement the efforts of the police in the area of combating kidnaping, armed robbery as well as herdsmen and farmers contentions in the Western region. Till date, no law establishes and/or define the scope of the outfit. Information on the powers of the outfit is limited to statements made by governors and officials of the affected six western states. However, Operation Amotekun questions the constitutional powers of state governments over internal/civil security.

2.0. POWERS OF STATE GOVERNMENTS OVER INTERNAL/CIVIL SECURITY