The Ekiti State Government has launched a recruitment exercise to enlist over 500 personnel into the Amotekun Corps, Agro-Marshals, and the Anti-Grazing Task Force, in a strategic push to strengthen security and safeguard farmlands and rural communities across the state.
The recruitment, which kicked off on Tuesday at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti, targets individuals with local knowledge and terrain familiarity to enhance the state’s surveillance and response to criminal activity—especially in the hinterlands.
Brigadier-General Ogundana Ebenezer (rtd), Special Adviser to Governor Biodun Oyebanji on Security Matters, said the initiative was designed to expand the state’s security architecture in line with the administration’s goal to protect lives, property, and agricultural assets.
“This recruitment drive is not just a response to existing security threats but a proactive measure to ensure the realization of the government’s vision for a robust agricultural sector,” Ogundana explained. “By strengthening security around farms and rural areas, we are safeguarding the future of agriculture in Ekiti.”
Ogundana described the initiative as a strategic step by Governor Oyebanji to enforce anti-grazing laws more effectively and tackle the growing menace of farmers-herders conflicts, which have long threatened food security and rural livelihoods in the state.
The recruitment process emphasizes the importance of enlisting individuals who understand the local terrain, which is crucial for effective intelligence gathering and swift response to criminal incidents.
According to Ogundana, the security personnel will also be tasked with protecting government infrastructure, enforcing anti-grazing regulations, and serving as a frontline defense for rural communities against criminal elements.