Calls Grow for Investigation Into Alleged Firearms Possession by Iru Ekun Operatives
By KosofePost Reporter
Public safety concerns have intensified following reports alleging that operatives of the Iru Ekun security outfit were seen in possession of firearms, prompting renewed debate over the regulation of community security groups and firearm ownership in Nigeria.
The issue gained national attention after a report by KosofePost and a subsequent call for investigation by the Thinkers’ Forum, also known as THURIST, which urged authorities to determine whether the security outfit is legally authorized to possess firearms.
The controversy has generated reactions from civic leaders, security advocates, and community stakeholders, many of whom have called for an impartial investigation while emphasizing the need to uphold the rule of law.
Commenting on the development, Founder of the Children and Community Protection Network, Omoba Awofeso Rasheed Ololade, said community-based security initiatives could complement conventional policing but must operate within established legal frameworks.
“There is nothing wrong with having complementary security outfits; however, there must be adequate accountability, regulation, and control to prevent the proliferation of illegal arms in society,” he said.
Ololade added that concerns over accountability and weapons control remain among the key issues influencing ongoing discussions around the establishment of state police in Nigeria.
Also reacting, Asekunola Ridwan commended THURIST for drawing public attention to the matter and stressed the importance of due process.
“For the sake of public confidence, peace, and the rule of law, I urge the relevant authorities to investigate this matter diligently and ensure that anyone found to have violated the law is held accountable,” he said, while noting that all parties should be presumed innocent until investigations are concluded.
Similarly, Ibraheem Bakare Olawale (IBO) said transparency is essential to maintaining public trust.
“If the allegations are true, those responsible should be held accountable in accordance with the law. If they are false, a credible investigation should clear the names of those involved,” he stated.
The development has also reignited discussions about the role of regional security outfits in addressing insecurity across the Southwest.
President of the Ta’awunu Humanitarian Forum, Taiwo Lasisi, warned against the emergence of unregulated security groups that could undermine existing regional security structures such as Amotekun.
“Southwestern Nigeria cannot afford to allow untrained, undisciplined, or controversial personalities to establish rival security outfits against the existing Amotekun structure,” he said, urging both federal and state authorities to prevent the proliferation of unauthorized arms.
Offering a different perspective, community advocate Ganiyu Olamiji Oyebanjo (GOCO) argued that discussions should also acknowledge the broader security challenges confronting communities.
He maintained that public attention should not focus solely on community vigilante groups while violent criminals continue to possess illegal weapons.
To strengthen public confidence, Oyebanjo recommended that the leadership of Iru Ekun seek formal recognition as a licensed private security company, integrate with existing Southwest security frameworks where appropriate, and maintain a transparent arms inventory subject to police oversight.
As calls for clarification continue to grow, stakeholders are urging security agencies to conduct a transparent and impartial investigation into the allegations to determine the facts, uphold the law, and address public concerns over the operations of community-based security outfits.