UN’s Declaration Of July 7 As ‘World Amotekun Day’, Afenifere Elated … Commends UN And SW Govts … Solicits For More To Enable Amotekun Perform Optimally

Following the declaration of July 7 of every year as ‘World Amotekun Day’ by the United Nations, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has commended the global body for the gesture describing it as “a big booster’.

Afenifere’s position was contained in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi.

“The recognition of Amotekun by the United Nations is unprecedented in this part of the globe. Amotekun’s invitation to be attending meetings of the body’s affiliates on security and human rights is a big morale booster. It is also a testament that those who brought it about and have been sustaining it were exemplary as further attested to by some states in Nigeria who have shown interest in replicating the concept in their respective areas”.

It would be recalled that Amotekun’s formal recognition by the global body (the UN) was made public last week by the President of the World Peace, Ambassador Peer Stafsen while presenting the ‘certificate of affiliation’ to the Commandant of the Ondo State Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye (DCC Rtd) in Akure, the state capital.

The World Peace is part of the global body, the United Nations.

Ondo State is significant on the issue of Amotekun as its former Governor, late Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, was pivotal in the establishment of the corps.

Stafsen, who was represented by the Director of Information and Communications of the International Association of World Peace Advocates, Ambassador Dr. Markwili Mgbara, said that the recognition was due to the activities of Amotekun corps in “promoting safety and protecting lives and property across Nigeria’s South-West region.”

The affiliation certificate was issued under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the International Association of World Peace Advocacy.With this recognition, the South West Security Network (Amotekun) will now be officially attending United Nations’ annual general meeting starting with the one coming up in New York, United States of America on September 22, 2025 which will mark the 80th anniversary of the global body.

In the words of Ambassador Stafsen, the certification “confirms the affiliation of Ondo State Amotekun Corps as a trained security unit recognized by the United Nations”.

Besides attending meetings of the world body and continuing with fighting crimes locally, Amotekun is also expected “to collaborate with various UN offices including the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), UN Office on Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), UN Office on Migration (UNOM), UN Forum on Forests (UNFF), UN Office on Small Arms and Light Weapons Control, UN Office on Human Trafficking, UN Environment Programme for Forest and Ecosystem Protection, UN Office for Combating Rape and Gender-based Violence.”

The apex Yoruba organization lauded late Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) who, along with his fellow governors in the Southwest then, were steadfast in ensuring that the security outfit took off and was sustained “in spite of the obstacles placed on its ways in various guises”.

The Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), codenamed ‘Amotekun’ (Yoruba word for ‘Leopard’ or ‘Cheetah’) was launched on January 9, 2020 in Ibadan, Oyo State by the governors of the south west i.e. Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States.

The establishment of the security outfit emanated from the regional security summit that took place in Ibadan in June, 2019 under the auspices of Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission (DAWN).

Afenifere submitted that the formal recognition of Amotekun by the apex world body and its formal invitation to attend annual security meeting “is a clear indication that the establishment of the outfit was a very good step to take. Its sustenance over the years in spite of various challenges is a testament to the resilience, vision and determination of all those who came up with the idea and those who have been keeping it alive.”

Quoting Stafsen’s assertion that Amotekun’s objectives and activities align “with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its broader vision for peace and security by 2030”,Ajayi said that Afenifere was impressed by the outfit’s significant contributions to reducing crime, supporting farmers, and ensuring highway safety across the Southwest region.

The achievement now places Amotekun in a position to participate in various UN security and human rights meetings globally.

Ajayi recalled that Amotekun, in its early formation, faced a lot of avoidable challenges especially from the federal government then led by the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

He praised the governors of the South west for not succumbing to intimidation then.

“Their not succumbing to intimidation has helped greatly in checking crimes in the region and in reducing the menace of armed bandits including unscrupulous Fulani herders who are making going to farms perilous”.

Afenifere spokesman then called on the governments of the south western states to leverage on this latest international recognition, “which is unprecedented, to properly equip Amotekun corps, boost the morale of the personnel and provide all that is needed for the outfit to be able to perform optimally”.

“We seize this opportunity to also call for an expeditious action on the establishment of state police and the provision of all that is needed to ensure that crime and banditry are reduced to the barest minimum”