By Busola Samuel
As the controversies generated by establishment of ‘Amotekun’ as security outfit of South West Nigeria by governors of the six states continue, we decided to put together what the people say and how they argue for and against it. Interlocutors gave reasons Amotekun should not be compared with Hisbah and that, while no one should be against attempt such as made by the governors, it should not be done without recourse to the laws of the land. A retired General from the region however said much as he has his reservations about the outfit, he believes that if the police did not fail in providing security to the people, there will be no need for people wanting to seek self designed means of protecting themselves. He said since, according to them, they cannot get such protection from the police, it is like if you stop Amotekun, then give the people what they want: security and let them be able to sleep with their two eyes closed away from cultists, hoodlums, armed robbers and make their bushes and highways free of the invasion of kidnappers and other criminals. Excerpts:
AMORTEKUN vs HISBAH! by Yusuf U Ajeka
Ajeka said: Here is a Brief and concise functions of the Kano HISBAH Corps for the innocent Nigerians that may by misled and MISGUIDED by Lawyers and self-styled Analysts from Wikipedia.
“Authority and jurisdiction Edit
The Hisbah Corps does not have authority to execute arrests and officers are armed only with non-lethal weapons for self-defense, such as batons. Hisbah officers who observe violations of Sharia are expected to alert the Nigeria Police Force. Other duties of the Hisbah Corps include arbitrating the voluntary reconciliation of disputes, verbally chastising violators of Sharia, and maintaining order at religious celebrations. Hisbah are also trained to assist with disaster response operations.”
Deji John Homolewoh commented: You need to also tell us functions of Amotekun sir.
Olusola Oye: Deji John Homolewoh exactly thanks brother to remind him.
Yusuf U Ajeka : Deji John Homolewoh
AMORTEKUN has no comparison nor semblance with HISBAH.
I am taking upon myself this onerous task of stopping those who thought they could pull a wool over the rest of us to incite distrust and mistrust amongst Nigerians.
AMORTEKUN was founded to tackle VIOLENT CRIMES in the South Western Region of Nigeria with FULL bearing Arms as a Paramilitary outfit like NSCDC, Immigration and Customs.
The AGF and Minister of JUSTICE was said to have declared this August Body ILLEGAL according to our Constitution.
But instead of our supposedly educated Southern brothers and sisters to either argue for or against its NECESSITY or Legality and it’s Conformity with our Constitution, they INVADED the social media like provoked Bees looking for who to sting with comparison with HISBAH AND the Civilian JTF in the North East.
And true to their expectations, most uninformed people started attacking BUHARI and the North based on MISCHIEF and OUTRIGHT LIES.
So, it became expedient for me to PUT THE RECORDS STRAIGHT before many more of our good Compatriots are MISLED OR MISGUIDED.
Deji John Homolewoh: Yusuf U Ajeka so civilian JTF is set up to settle marital dispute and Hisbbah also to settle same abi …have you seen the Amotekun rules of engagement and their modus operandi to be able to conclude if they will carry lether weapons ? Sir…..we must stop seen most things with parochial lenses …are you also saying community can not employ the service of Mai guard to secure your street or your house sir.
Yusuf U Ajeka: Deji John Homolewoh
Maiguard with arm or without Arms?
If after all my explanation you are stuck to your opinion.
Sorry sir.
Am out of here.
Deborah Iyinoluwa: Yusuf U Ajeka you only told us the functions of Hisbah what of Amotekun. Abi you’re biased already.
Yusuf U Ajeka: Deborah Iyinoluwa Deborah Iyinoluwa HISBAH is simply a TASKFORCE WITHOUT FIREARMS unlike AMORTEKUN.
HISBAH is to enforce Sharia laws on MUSLIMS and Settle domestic quarrels .
The key difference is the FIREARM.
HISBAH DOES NOT CARRY ANY GUN AT ALL. THEY ARE LIKE KAI BRIGADE AND LASTMA IN LAGOS STATE.
WHILE AMORTEKUN IS A FULL FLEDGED PARAMILITARY WITH FIREARMS.
So, how could people who fear God and still remember the DAY OF ACCOUNTABILITY, a Day they will stand alone and bare before the CREATOR of the Heavens and the Earth compare AMORTEKUN to HISBAH?
It’s pure MISCHIEF
AMORTEKUN can’t even be compared to Civilian JTF because AMORTEKUN as presently constituted has no relationship or subordination to any Federal Security Agencies like the Police or Civil Defense unlike the Civilian JTF under the Armed FORCES and the Nigerian Police.
I thought you are one of the few people who know me and what I stand for.
How could you imagine I will ever be biased on serious National issues that could cause internal Conflagration if not tamed as we are doing on time.
HISBAH is for Sharia and simple domestic issues while AMORTEKUN is strictly and mainly for VIOLENT CRIME AND CRIMINALITY.
Another discourse hosted by Sobowale Toheeb Adesola said:
For the records, the HISBAH Corps are no security outfits, they are basically religious moral Police. They can only restrain you but can’t make arrest.
Let’s get our Àmọ̀tēkùn argument on the right footing. We are Yoruba’s wẹ operate using wisdom and knowledge, not emotions or sentiments.
B’èèyàn bá n sun’kún, a máa rí’ran.
#Àmọ̀tẹ́kùn
And Tee Oba asked: what about JTF? Where are they in the constitution?
Sobowale replied: Tee Oba … JTF is not in my post for obvious reasons, which is to make the right argument for this initiative.
However, according to an exchange I read elsewhere, the JTF in Borno is already a registered entity backed by the vigilante laws of the State shortly after recognition of its efforts by the State Government. It only enjoys the appellation “Civilian JTF” as a nickname.
He continued: I can say Lagos Neighborhood Watch is also not in the Constitution going by your question …. However, my post is not addressing constitutional referencing.
Tee Oba would yet satisfied said: Sobowale Toheeb Adesola Every south west state has forest guard laws. We also already operate vigilante groups in our. various neighbourhood. How is organising them into a cohesive unit a bad thing? We need to be united on this. This makes no sense. We have been agitating for this for two long years. How many more people have to die?
But Sobowale was quick to remind her the core of the discourse away from fruitless arguments: Tee Oba … I hope we’re not trying to argue here Ma, because of your firing from all cylinders outside of what my post addresses.
Anyway, my issue here is not the right or wrong of organizing the various vigilantes into a unit. Rather the legal framework giving life to such unit whereby someone could puncture a hole into it easily as illegal.
You and I can float business entities individually which are duly registered and known to the law. If we’re going to unite under any special arrangements to carry out a function, that same special arrangement has to be known to law.
That’s just my own in this hullabaloo. A brilliant idea may be lost to just a meaningful items omitted from its details.
Yoruba says “a má n k’ẹjọ́ ni síwájú kí a tó já ni”.
Tee Oba then said: Sobowale Toheeb Adesola Everyone I know has already suggested that (including me) but delaying it for that reason is not very sensible in my opinion. It was difficult enough to get them to agree to do it in the first place. Passing the anti open grazing law in Oyo state was another battle until seyi makinde. God bless that man’s soul.
And the discourse went in as Sobowale Toheeb Adesola once again showed interest: Tee Oba … My Sister that simple omission can easily kill that idea.
In fact that’s why I just don’t like the way our people are comparing the issue with what’s happening in the North, that we don’t have good working knowledge of again. Lagos has already set the trend with Neighbourhood Watch, by making the local vigilantes into a Government owned local policing body (though not totally functioning as it should).
The other State should take same step further to organize the local vigilantes into operative units backed by law. They can theb establish a structure for cooperative operation interstate just like LASTMA and TRACE do work as with Transport Management.
We don’t need to get into unnecessary distraction on such strategic issues.
In fact these are quick ways for us to promote our regional reintegration strategically and put back to fore our fast eroding Upward Ọmọluabi Values.
Tee Oba: Sobowale Toheeb Adesola Please lagos did not invent neighbourhood watch. We have had vigilante in our neighbourhoods since the military. If this is delayed it will never take off.
Sobowale: Tee Oba … Lagos Neighborhood Watch is a legal entity … That’s my point. I am not into who invented what.
Tee Oba: The constitution allows it. We have forest guard laws that recognise it. Our main problems are in the forests. We need no more laws except to satisfy those that want to sabotage it – just to fulfil all righteousness.
“Ok.,” Sobowale said.
And Tee Oba said: Sobowale Toheeb Adesola we really need a united front. Lives are at stake.
Still on Sobowole’s initiated discourse Lanre Rasheed declared: Amatekun is unconstitutional.
But the host was a little bit in disagreement saying: Lanre Rasheed …. It is not unconstitutional. It is just illegal, it has no legal framework currently.
That’s just what these our Governors should rectify.
Lanre Rasheed insisted: Sobowale Toheeb Adesola it is not in our constitution to have regional security outfit . That is what unconstitutional means.
Sobowole agreed: Lanre Rasheed … I understand and agree based on regional framework … It would/should take the form of intra-State cum Inter-State Security Cooperation.
Tee Oba came into the argument at this point saying: Lanre Rasheed it is not unconstitutional. Section 227 is the only place that prohibits arms bearing groups and the only exception is if it is for a political purpose.
Lanre Rasheed challenged Oba for a proof: Bring it out where it allows regions 6 geopolitical regions to have security outfit or forever be quite. It is states. States not regions. And many southern states already have that. Lagos has neighborhood watch. Yorubas are not gullible and stupid. Stop pertrinizing us with your lies .
If you decide to change the structure you most follow due prosses. Sentiments is not the way you most go through the amendment of the Constitution. Shouting and threatening using tribalism is not how to play the game in a democracy. You have representatives. In the NASS. Take it up with then. Do not divide the yoruba people with hatred for the north. We need them in 2023.
Victor Ugochukwu Ezeonwumelu tried to bring an inference when he viewed HISBAH and Amotekun as: Moral police vs Socio-cultural police.
But Sobowale, who energetically held on to his host of the discourse, quickly replied Victor saying: “Victor Ugochukwu Ezeonwumelu … Àmọ̀tēkùn is not socio-cultural Sir … It is purely local policing … Except I am not getting your point clearly.
Let’s not look at it from the angle of it originating from the Yoruba People.”
“So it is community policing then”, Victor said and Sobowole concurred: Ezeonwumelu … That’s what it should be .. from all the spins.
Our people are just too much in a hurry, and needs to tidy things up.
As it is, that body has no locus standi … Hence the opinion of the AGF.
The Governors know what to do to actualize this objective, and I’ll urge them to leave the grandstanding and get back to work.
Michael Okechukwu Okpara, a new interlocutor, joined the discourse with a loser to Sobowale saying: Go read about Hisbah police again Sir. But Sobowole did not let go as he replied him: Michael … You need the reading more than I do.
Micheal then said: Sobowale Toheeb Adesola OK. From what you posted, its obvious and Sobowole said “Thanks You. Next!”
The more interest the Sobowale Toheeb Adesola’s initiated discourse became the increase the number of the interlocutors that joined.
Dare Odunlami Ola Ayinde joined with what became an intervention that settled the whole talks when justified what Hisbah does by constitutional approval. He said: “Hisbah arrested a Police man in between 3 women few days ago in Kano, the constitution allows citizen to make arrest a criminal with unlawful act and handover to appropriate security agency.”
Sobowale found this helpful: Dare Odunlami Ola Ayinde … You have solved the puzzle within your statement.
Citizens arrest is same as restraining or detaining.
I intentionally not use citizens arrest for better clarification and differentiation.
Joining also was Ragnar Sazzy Reddington with a repeat of what had earlier been cleared: “I’m not sure if the “they can’t restrain you right is correct”, just a fortnight ago, there were stories of how they arrested a policeman for being with some women in an hotel room.”
Ragnar was replied by Sobowale: “Ragnar Sazzy Reddington … Would they take the Police to their own station? Or hand him over to the Police?
Which one happened?
It’s more like me catching thief for my Compound. What will happen next?”
Now coming out with his displayed lack of information, Ragnar bared it open saying: “Sobowale Toheeb Adesola you and I know what Sharia means, that means they’d play judge, jury and executioner and nobody would say jack. That they handed over the policeman to the police (not like there’s any record that this happened though), doesn’t mean that they’d hand over any common man. Long story short, sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.”
“Ragnar Sazzy Reddington … Bros … Leave waste for LAWMA to park … You are speculating.
“What does Shari’a mean? Jury and Executioner? LOL … I bow for you oh!” Sobowale said.
Joining in the host if the discourse on her Facebook wall is Lauretta Onochie, who reiterated the breaking news that revealed Federal Government’s averse to the Amotekun’ stuff without recourse to the laws of the land. She posted: “BREAKING NEWS!
“Operation Amotekun, the security outfit launched by the South West Governors, is an illegal outfit. It runs contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian Law.”
-Abubakar Mallami, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.”
Responding to Onochie, Abatam Nwosu said: “Anything that connotes ethnicity should be discouraged in the first place.”
Partaking in the discourse, Oscars Felix said: “Nigerians like unnecessary controversy. Though the outfit is a laudable one unfortunately it’s unconstitutional. If the initiators feel very disappointed by Federal government position, two options are available. Go to court or lobby for the constitution to be amended.”
Acknowledging Felix, Lauretta said: “Thank you Oscar Oscars Felix. We have been in bed with Lawlessness for too long that we cannot tell the difference between legal and illegality. It’s a shame because of tribal sentiments.”
More Nigerians thronged the Lauretta Onochie wall to contribute and they include Valentine Emeka Okolie who said: “A security outfit not backed by legislation can never be legal, even a layman knows this.”
She said: “Please I’m not keen on any opinion that has no recourse to the laws of Nigeria.
There’s “Amotekun” in Delta State. It’s also in Lagos Kano, Kaduna, Rivers, and in many other states of the Federation.
BUT THEY DO NOT BEAR ARMS.
That’s where the law was broken. We, as Nigerians, must shun sentiments and stand by our laws. Always.
Ugochukwu Brown Ugba asked: “Is Nigeria going forward or backward…its simple anything about defence and security falls on the exclusive list, period. Let us try at all times to obey our country law.”
Lauretta Onochie replied him:
Ugochukwu Brown Ugba You are not following current events in your nation.
Implementation of the community policing is in its final stages.
Recruitment will begin in earnest.
Its within the law.
How can you be fighting for what is against the law?
You dont fight the law on Facebook. You go to court.
Dosunmu Taofeek Olalekan asked:
Lauretta Onochie, pls madam why cant the FG go to court first before pronouncing it as illegal.
Finally Dosunmu was replied by Onochie:
Dosunmu Taofeek Olalekan the Federal government is equipped to know when our laws are being broken. If you disagree with them, go to court!
