Ogun Assembly holds public hearing on Amotekun
The Ogun State House of Assembly on Monday held a public hearing on the proposed Ogun State Security Network Agency Law, 2020, with stakeholders canvassing for inclusion of security measures against slavery, human trafficking, kidnapping, banditry, invasion of farmland and the need to ensure human rights protection and intelligence gathering as parts of the responsibilities of the Corps upon its take off.
Penpushing reports that, this was the aggregation of views of stakeholders including the Nigerian Bar Association, Muslim Council, Association of Nigerian Authors, Coalition of Civil Societies, Yoruba World Congress, Association of Hunters, and the Institute of Emergency Management
The attendance also include: Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), Community Development Associations (CDAs), Ogu Speaking People in the State, Justice Development and Peace Movement, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) , National Youth Council of Nigeria, Peace Corps and Vigilante Group of Nigeria amongst others.
The stakeholders commended the initiative of the Governors in the South West at establishing the Corps in response to challenges of insecurity in the nation, positing that when operational, the Amotekun Corps should strengthen ties with other agencies with a view to strengthening security in the region.
Penpushing further reports that, they also pointed out the need to avoid unnecessary friction and overlapping function, stressing that the Corps should be devoid of political interference with proper funding to enable them function effectively.
The Speaker Olakunle Oluomo, earlier in his welcome address assured that the bill when passed by the Assembly and eventually signed into law by the State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, would be translated into indigenous language for easy understanding by all and sundry.
Penpushing also reports that, Oluomo noted that the bill was meant to protect the overall wellbeing of residents and investors in the State, emphasising that intelligence gathering remained the fulcrum of any effective security management, just as he assured that the Assembly would harness all the inputs of the stakeholders into the bill and ensure its accelerated passage.
The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Gbolahan Adeniran, in his submission lauded the stakeholders for their robust contributions during the public hearing, while saying that community participation was essential in achieving effective community policing system.
