Amotekun: Stakeholders Seek Measures Against Human Trafficking, Kidnapping In Ogun
Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
The Ogun State House of Assembly today 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.
This was the aggregation of views of stakeholders including the representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ogun State Chapter, Barr. Kayode Adeyemi, the State Muslim Council, Alhaji Kamaldeen Akintunde, Association of Nigerian Authors, Paul Oni, Chairman, State Coalition of Civil Societies, Yinka Folarin, Yoruba World Congress, Otunba Sade Olukoya, Association of Hunters in Ogun, Chief Olusegun Bamgbose and the Institute of Emergency Management, Mr Badero Adedamola who took turns to lend their voice in support of the bill at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta .
Others including representatives of 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.
They all 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 operatoonal, the Amotekun Corps should strengthen ties with other agencies with a view to strenghtening security in the region.
The 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.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Speaker, Rt Hon Olakunle Oluomo, assured that the bill when passed by the Assembly and eventually signed into law by the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, would be translated into indigenous language for easy understanding by all and sundry.
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.
In his submission, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Gbolahan Adeniran, lauded the stakeholders for their robust contributions during the public hearing, while saying that community participation was essential in achieving effective community policing system.
