Activist Omoyele Sowore has cautioned against relying on non-state actors for security operations following the recent abduction of teachers and students by bandits in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, after Sunday Igboho declared his readiness to deploy his team to assist in addressing the situation if directed by the president.
In a video from 6:21 shared by TV Platinum, Sowore made the remarks while reacting to Igboho’s offer to support efforts aimed at rescuing the abducted teachers and students, noting that although community-based security initiatives may be driven by good intentions, concerns remain about accountability, operational control, and compliance with recognised security standards.
“Sunday Igboho already had his team even before he was attacked. He can deploy before the president asks him to. But my problem with all of this is that the moment you start empowering non-state actors to take up the job of security, you cannot guarantee human rights, nor can you impose and enforce operational protocols that meet national and international standards.”
He said the issue goes beyond the willingness of individuals such as Sunday Igboho to contribute to security efforts and extends to the broader implications of assigning responsibilities traditionally handled by state institutions to groups operating outside official security structures.
According to Sowore, maintaining professional standards and protecting the rights of citizens require clear operational guidelines and oversight mechanisms, which are more difficult to enforce when security responsibilities are carried out by non-state actors, adding that strengthening existing security agencies remains the most sustainable approach to addressing insecurity across the country….Read_More…