Amotekun: Governor Makinde appoints Togun, Olayinka Chairman, Commandant

Segun Showunmi in Ibadan

The Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has appointed the duo of General Ajibola Kunle Togun and retired Colonel Olayanju Bisiriyu Olayinka as chairman and commandant, respectively, of the Oyo State Security Network, otherwise known as Amotekun.

Penpushing reports that this was contained in a in statement signed by the Governor Makinde’s Special Assistant (Print Media) Moses Alao, which was made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The statement indicated that the retired military officers will oversee the initiative, which was put in place to check insecurity in the state, while it is recalled that Governor Makinde signed the Amotekun Bill into law in March, with the government having procured vehicles and other equipment for use by the security outfit which, he noted, was set up to complement the efforts of other security agencies in the state.

Penpushing further reports that the new chairman of the outfit, General Togun, retired from the military having served as Director of Military Intelligence and former Deputy Director-General of the State Security Service.

The Amotekun boss, who attended the Government College, Ibadan, and Mount Olivet High School, Oyo, studied Zoology at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University),  Ile-Ife, between 1964 and 1968, before joining the Nigerian Army in 1968, where he served in the Awka Sector during the Nigerian Civil War.

Penpushing also reports that, he was the first non-American Army Officer to score 100 percent in a military subject at the aptitude level, and served in various positions in the Army, including Presidential Guards, Dodan Barracks, Lagos; Adviser in the Nigerian Embassy, Cotonou in 1979; Battalion Commander; Brigade Commander, Director of Military Intelligence and

Penpushing reports that similarly, the newly appointed commandant of the security  outfit, Col. Olayinka (rtd), has several years of experience in the military, having served as Assistant Director, British Military Advisory Training Team, Defence Headquarters, Abuja; Deputy Chief of Staff (Logistics), Headquarters 2 Div, Nigerian Army, Ibadan and Sector Commander, Operation Safe Haven, Plateau State, among others.

The Amotekun commandant began his military training at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji, Nigeria, in 1993, and holds a Higher Defence Management and National Security certification from the National Defence College, Abuja.

Penpushing further reports that, he also holds a Masters of Strategic Studies certificate from the University of Ibadan, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Criminology and Security Studies from the National Open University, Abuja; Professional Diploma in Safety and Security Management from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, among other educational and professional certifications.