Ekiti Government Expands Amotekun Corps with 400 personnel to Secure Farms, Boost Food Production
By Exponent News, Akure – July 28, 2025
The Ekiti State Government has intensified its rural security efforts by expanding the Amotekun Corps with recruitment of four hundred personnel (400) . Amotekun , a regional security outfit, as part of a broader strategy to safeguard farmlands and encourage youth participation in agriculture.
This move comes as the government revives several agricultural projects originally instituted by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo across the South West region. With large-scale farming activities, such as cassava cultivation and tractorization of farmlands, gaining momentum, there’s now a pressing need to protect farmers from threats posed by armed herders and bandits operating in the region’s forests.
In a recent Television interview, a government spokesperson highlighted the efforts of the state to recruit more agro-rangers into the Amotekun Corps. These recruits will work in synergy with the Nigeria Police Force, and their training was supported by the Nigerian Army. The arrangement, officials say, is part of a practical community policing initiative as the debate over the establishment of state police continues at the national level.
“We may not have state police yet, but with community policing, we are making do with what is available. Ekiti Amotekun is recruiting more hands, and these agro-rangers will work with police to ensure farmers can access their lands without fear,” he said.
The expanded corps is expected to not only improve rural security but also reduce unemployment as more youths are absorbed into meaningful roles within the security and agricultural value chains.
He added that ongoing insecurity had previously hindered farming activities, leading to a rise in food prices. “With increased security presence in the forests, criminal elements like bandits and herders will be denied hideouts, and farmers can confidently return to their fields,” he noted.
The government has also urged other states in the North Central and North West to adopt similar homegrown security frameworks to complement federal efforts, citing the success of Amotekun in Ondo, Oyo, and now Ekiti State.
This renewed focus on security-backed agricultural revival is being applauded as a strategic step to tackle food insecurity while revitalizing the state’s economy.
As one commentator put it, “Where there is a will, there is a way. This is not just about 400 new recruits; it’s about creating an enabling environment for food security, job creation, and sustainable peace.”
Governor Biodun Oyebanji has been commended for the foresight and commitment, with calls for further recruitment to ensure “more boots on the ground” across all rural areas in the state.
