Amotekun Dismisses Six Pregnant Recruits in Ogun State Over Safety Concerns
Ogun State’s Amotekun security network has dismissed six pregnant women from its training program following routine medical screening. The dismissals occurred after health checks revealed the recruits’ pregnancies during the enrollment process.
Brigadier General Alade Adedigba (retd.), the State Corps Commander, confirmed the dismissals on Thursday. He cited health and safety concerns as the primary reason for removing the six women from the training program.
The decision highlights the physical demands of Amotekun’s security training program. The paramilitary-style training involves rigorous physical exercises that could pose risks to pregnant recruits and their unborn children.
Amotekun, officially known as the Security Network Agency, operates across southwestern Nigeria. The organization was established to address rising security challenges in the region, including kidnapping, banditry, and farmer-herder conflicts.
The Ogun State command conducts routine medical screenings for all recruits during the enrollment process. These health checks help identify conditions that might prevent candidates from completing the demanding training program safely.
The dismissals raise questions about recruitment policies and whether pregnancy screening should occur before training begins. Currently, medical examinations happen after recruits enter the program, potentially leading to similar situations in future training cycles.
This development underscores the challenges faced by security agencies in balancing operational readiness with inclusive recruitment practices across Nigeria’s evolving security landscape.