Afenifere Hails UN as July 7 Becomes ‘World Amotekun Day’
By: Israel Adeleke
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has praised the United Nations for officially declaring July 7 as World Amotekun Day, describing the development as “a big morale booster” and an unprecedented recognition of a regional security initiative in Nigeria.
OTN News further reports that this recognition was made public last week in Akure, the Ondo State capital, when Ambassador Peer Stafsen, President of the World Peace, presented a certificate of affiliation to the Commandant of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as the Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye (DCC Rtd).
Stafsen was represented at the event by the Director of Information and Communications, Ambassador Dr. Markwili Mgbara, of the International Association of World Peace Advocates, a body affiliated with the United Nations.
According to the UN-linked body, the honour is in recognition of Amotekun’s outstanding role in promoting public safety, safeguarding lives and property, and enhancing security across Nigeria’s South-West region.
With this international validation, the Amotekun Corps is now slated to officially participate in the United Nations' annual general meeting and related global security and human rights events, starting with the 2025 UN Assembly in New York on September 22.
Reacting to the milestone, Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, issued a statement lauding the development and emphasizing the symbolic and practical significance of the global honour.
“The recognition of Amotekun by the United Nations is unprecedented in this part of the globe,” Ajayi said. “It confirms that the creation of the security outfit was a wise and commendable decision, and that its sustainability despite numerous challenges speaks volumes about the resilience and vision of those behind it,” he added.
Furthermore, Afenifere highlighted that the initiative, spearheaded by the late Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, and other South-West leaders, has become a model now being considered by other states across Nigeria.
Quoting Stafsen, Ajayi noted that Amotekun’s operations align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its vision for global peace and security by 2030.
The group also applauded Amotekun’s practical achievements, which include reducing rural and highway crime, supporting local farmers, and increasing community trust in security operations.
“Amotekun’s invitation to global security meetings is not just symbolic—it’s a testament to the outfit’s growing impact and importance beyond Nigeria’s borders,” Ajayi added.
With this formal international recognition, Amotekun Corps is set to play a more prominent role in global dialogues on community-based security, grassroots peacebuilding, and human rights, a development Afenifere believes will further enhance regional stability and cooperation.
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