Decentralized Policing and Regional Security Architecture in Nigeria: A Comparative Study of the Amotekun Corps in Ekiti, Ondo, And Osun States, Nigeria | Zenodo Skip to main Communities My dashboard Log in Sign up Published May 4, 2026 | Version v1 Journal article Open Decentralized Policing and Regional Security Architecture in Nigeria: A Comparative Study of the Amotekun Corps in Ekiti, Ondo, And Osun States, Nigeria Authors/Creators Adewale Adeosun 1 Bolaji Omitola 1 Samuel Babatunde Adedotun 2 Olayiwola Olayode 2 Show affiliations 1.
Global Affairs and Sustainable Development Goal, Osun State University 2.
Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Osun State University Description The growing incidence of insecurity across Nigeria has intensified the search for decentralized security arrangements capable of complementing the efforts of conventional law enforcement agencies. In the South-West region, the establishment of the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun, represents a strategic response by state governments to address rising cases of kidnapping, armed robbery, and rural banditry. This study examines the institutional structure and operational arrangements of the Amotekun Corps in Ekiti, Ondo, and Osun States in order to understand how variations in administrative frameworks influence the functioning and effectiveness of the corps. The study adopts a comparative research design and relies on qualitative data obtained from enabling laws, government reports, policy documents, and scholarly publications. Available operational records indicate that since its establishment in 2020, the Amotekun Corps has recruited several thousand personnel across the South-West, with Ondo State alone deploying over 1,500 operatives, while Ekiti and Osun States maintain operational strengths of approximately 1,200 and 1,300 personnel, respectively. Reports from state security briefings further indicate that the corps has assisted in the arrest of several hundred suspected criminals and has supported conventional security agencies in addressing kidnapping and armed robbery incidents within rural and peri-urban communities. Despite operating within a shared regional framework, the findings reveal notable variations in manpower capacity, logistical resources, and administrative structures across the three states. The study concludes that improved institutional coordination, standardized operational frameworks, and sustained investment in personnel training and logistics are necessary to enhance the effectiveness of the Amotekun Corps as a complementary security mechanism in South-West Nigeria. Files 2.pdf Files (206.2 kB) Name Size Download all 2.pdf md5:e3029fe7006dab04dc59ecc9e9395781 206.2 kB Preview Download 58 Views 22 Downloads Show more details All versions This version Views Total views 58 58 Downloads Total downloads 22 22 Data volume Total data volume 4.7 MB 4.7 MB More info on how stats are collected.... Versions External resources Indexed in OpenAIRE Communities Keywords and subjects Keywords Amotekun Corps, community policing, decentralized security, security governance, South-West Nigeria. Details DOI DOI Badge DOI 10.5281/zenodo.20021184 Markdown [](https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20021184) reStructuredText .. image:: https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.20021184.svg :target: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20021184 HTML <a href="https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20021184"><img src="https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.20021184.svg" alt="DOI"></a> Image URL https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.20021184.svg Target URL https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20021184 Resource type Journal article Publisher International Journal of Multidisciplinary and Innovative Research Published in International Journal of Multidisciplinary and Innovative Research, 03(05), 341-348, ISSN: 3050-6891, 2026. Languages English Rights License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International The Creative Commons Attribution license allows re-distribution and re-use of a licensed work on the condition that the creator is appropriately credited. Read more Citation Export Technical metadata Created May 4, 2026 Modified May 4, 2026 Jump up About About Policies Infrastructure Principles Projects Roadmap Contact Blog Blog Support Help FAQ Developers REST API OAI-PMH Contribute GitHub Donate Funded by Powered by CERN Data Centre & InvenioRDM Status Privacy policy Cookie policy Terms of Use This site uses cookies. Find out more on how we use cookies Accept all cookies Accept only essential cookies