Security: amotekun bill passes second reading in oyo assembly
Segun Showunmi in Ibadan
The Oyo State Security Network Agency Bill 2020 otherwise known as Amotekun Corps bill has passed second reading at the Oyo State House of Assembly.
Penpushing reports that the bill is to establish an indigenous based security agency across the six Southwest States (Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti) to collaborate with and assist the Police and other security agencies in maintaining law and order within the States.
The Speaker of the Oyo State State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin while speaking with journalists noted that the lawmakers are excited with the bill and will do everything possible to accelerate its passage into law within some days.
Penpushing further reports that, Ogundoyin said, the Amotekun bill will go beyond 2020 and even the 9th Assembly that is why the Oyo Assembly will give it critical check to ensure the excitement does not make the State overlook possible loopholes.
“Truly, we are excited just as our people about this bill which promises to strength our state of security across Southwest States. But we’ve passed it to House Committee on Security for scrutiny. After that, we will hold public hearing to ensure our people’s opinions are accommodated’,he said.
“Personally, I’ve seen lot of comments and positions from our people in the media about the proposed security outfits and its bill. Amotekun as generated lot of attention and the expectations are high, thus we have to handle all it’s processes with the importance it deserves.”
Penpushing also reports that Hon. Hakeem Adedibu representing Iwajowa State constituency in his contributions charged the lawmakers to ensure it is stipulated in the bill that Amotekun officers should be recruited from and for their local government to fulfill it’s indigenous purpose and competency.
Hear him, “Just last week an armed police officer was kidnapped in my local government and till date there is no useful information about his whereabout. The Police needs a supporting hand of people that are familiar with the terrain of their communities and villages.”
Penpushing reports that Hon. Babajide Adebayo representing Ibadan North II on his contributions emphasized on the need for the lawmakers to consider the peculiarities of the State and its people in the bill.
He said, “Amotekun is SouthWest security idea, however, our peculiarities should be considered in the structure and enactment to make sure this work for us.We have lost relatives, friends and loved ones to bandits, arm robberry, kidnapping and other crimes, therefore having Amotekun now is long expected.
