Amotekun adopts Hisbah tactics, bans indecent dressing, poor use of Yoruba

The Osun Command of the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed ‘Operation Amotekun’ has threatened to confront any individual within its area of jurisdiction, who degrades the Yoruba language.

Commandant of the security outfit in the state, Amitolu Shittu, also vowed to punch his weight against indecent dressing when the group commences full operations in March 2021.

Speaking at the recently held empowerment programme initiated by a member of the federal parliament, Lawrence Babatunde Ayeni (APC, Ilesha Constituency 1), Mr. Shittu reckoned that the Nigerian Constitution did not include obscenity in its provision for freedom of as­sociation.

The Amotekun corps, which was established to complement internal security in the six Southwest states, could appear to have deviated from its core mandate with the new advisory, which bore striking similarities with the tactics of Hisbah police in the North.

Paramilitary groups in the country have long been notorious for issuing guidelines that conflict with Nigeria’s secular principles.

Peoples Gazette reported that the Kano State Hisbah Board, a religious police notable for enforcing compliance with Shariah law, had banned Black Friday sales as ‘immoral’ in Kano, amongst other controversial enforcements.