A former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Ita Ekpenyong, has urged the National Assembly to enact legislation that will legitimise and strengthen the operations of Amotekun and other non-violent state-backed security outfits across the country.
Ekpenyong also proposed the creation of community-based self-defence groups, to be known as “Community Shields,” to enhance security and intelligence gathering at the grassroots level.
He made the call in Abuja while speaking at a seminar organised by the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) for participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC 18). The seminar, themed “Non-State Actors in Security Management: Issues, Challenges, Prospects for Peace and Development in Africa”, is part of the course requirements for awarding the Fellowship of the Security Institute (fsi) to 78 participants drawn from Nigeria and five other African countries.
Represented at the event by the Assistant Director General in charge of Training, Femi Sotayo, the current DSS Director General, Mr. Adeola Ajayi, described the topic as timely and urged participants to pay close attention to the deliberations.
In his presentation, Ekpenyong classified non-state actors into violent and non-violent categories, advising the government to integrate the latter into formal security structures.
“Policies should promote the inclusion of non-violent state actors in security sector reform processes, ensuring that their perspectives and experiences are reflected in policy formulation and implementation,” he said.
The former DSS boss stressed the need to strengthen counterterrorism efforts by creating self-defence groups under the control of security agencies, adding that vigilante operations should be standardised and legally recognised.
He further recommended continuous profiling, debriefing, and rehabilitation of repentant terrorists, but cautioned against the practice of giving them free cash. Instead, he suggested collaboration with the private sector to equip them with skills and provide paid employment opportunities.
On the proposed “Community Shields,” Ekpenyong explained that the initiative would function like Kenya’s community policing model introduced in 2013, operating in collaboration with community leaders, religious bodies, and local and state governments.
“Each Community Shield office should be staffed locally, including organisers and profilers who will work closely with security agencies,” he added.
Ekpenyong concluded by urging the National Assembly to urgently formalise the role of Amotekun, civilian joint task forces, and similar non-violent actors in the Constitution, with clearly defined mandates and operational guidelines.
