History. . . . .
The origin of Amotekun in Yorubaland:
*Yoruba Hero: Àró*
In the early 18th century, reports of incessant crimes of banditry and terrorism from Fulani thieves and Dahomeans who deal in slaves around Igbo Aje, along the Egbado and Kétu axis, reached Alaafin Oyo, who is the king of the Yoruba people by then.
Aro, a skillful hunter with his leopard (Àmòtékùn) along with his own private army, left Oyo and settled down at Igbo Aje to flush out the foreign Fulani terrorists, kidnapping Yorubas for slavery, using the Port Novo (Àjàsé) and Badagry routes.
Aro flushed them out and peace returned back without panics of kidnapping anymore.
Aro founded Ìlarö (i.e. Ìlú Àró) at his old age. He mysteriously disappeared along with his leopard.
The place where Aro disappeared into the ground with his Leopard is today known as the Orona Shrine and has been renovated and constructed as a monument for lovers of history and tourists. It is also the location where the coronation of every new traditional ruler of the town is performed.
The Orona Ilaro Festival is celebrated annually in remembrance of the great warrior.
*For the records.*
