Tension is rising across Oyo State as operatives of the Oyo State Security Network—popularly known as Amotekun—prepare for a statewide strike and protest. The officers accuse Governor Seyi Makinde, Amotekun Board Chairman AIG Sikiru Akande (retd.), and State Commandant Col. Olayinka Olayanju (retd.) of refusing to issue official appointment letters nearly five years after the outfit was established.

Operatives said morale has reached a breaking point across all 33 Local Government Areas, alleging that they have remained contract staff “under slavery conditions” since Amotekun’s creation in 2020.

In a statement issued on behalf of the operatives, they praised the late Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu for championing the establishment of Amotekun across the Southwest. They noted that the Oyo State Assembly formally created the corps on November 18, 2020, and said the public has continued to appreciate Amotekun’s contributions to reducing crime.

The operatives highlighted their role in foiling kidnapping attempts in Lagelu and Akinyele but argued that their effectiveness is being undermined by the government’s refusal to provide job security through appointment letters.

They also questioned why Governor Makinde reportedly fast-tracked the placement of LAUTECH security personnel onto the state payroll while Amotekun officers—who they say face greater risks—remain without official employment status.

The aggrieved officers further alleged that Col. Olayinka Olayanju has openly admitted to halting the issuance of appointment letters since 2021. According to them, he repeated this position during an Oyo State Assembly scrutiny session on November 19, 2025, claiming that the presence of veteran operatives was a reason for withholding the letters. The operatives described this explanation as unacceptable.

There are also calls among the corps for the dissolution of the Amotekun board over what they described as a lack of transparency in the handling of alleged funds—₦1.2 million purportedly collected from each of the 33 local government chairmen over the past five years.

The operatives outlined several key demands, including:

• Immediate issuance of appointment letters to all Amotekun operatives in Oyo State
• Formation of a formal ranking structure within the corps
• Implementation of the hardship allowance Governor Makinde previously announced
• Dissolution of the Amotekun board
• Removal of Col. Olayinka Olayanju and the board chairman

They warned that prolonged government inaction could worsen security concerns in the state, noting that neighbouring states have also faced escalating threats. They said intelligence reports suggest potential attacks in Oyo, and stressed that operatives who are expected to respond to such threats still lack formal employment status.

The officers appealed to the Oyo State House of Assembly to visit Amotekun offices across all 33 LGAs to hear their grievances directly and address pressing issues before they escalate.