All six state houses of assemblies across the southwest pass Amotekun bill unanimously

ALL six state houses of assembly across the southwest geo-political zone have now passed the regional security bill establishing the Amotekun Corps as the five other states joined Ekiti in finalising passage yesterday.

Over recent years, heavily-armed herdsmen have been running riot across Nigeria, engaging in kidnapping, armed robbery and banditry. To address the problem, the governors from across the southwest geo-political zone decided to launch a regional security outfit named Amotekun, which translates to leopard in the local Yoruba language.

Backing up their plans with an official launch in Ibadan, the six governors have supplied Operation Amotekun with vehicles and equipment. On February 13, the Ekiti State House of assembly became the first legislature to pass the Amotekun bill into law and yesterday, it was joined by the Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Ondo state houses of assembly.

In Lagos State the bill was passed unanimously after the speaker, Hon Mudashiru Obasa and his colleagues read it for the third time. In Ogun State, the bill titled  A Bill for a Law to  Establish the Ogun State Security Network Agency and Amotekun Corps to assist in Maintaining Law and Order in the State and Connected Purposes, was passed too.

In  Ibadan, the Oyo State House of Assembly passed the bill with all its members dressed in leopard skin regalia, after which they sent it to Governor Seyi Makinde. In Osogbo, the Osun State House of Assembly passed the bill after amending some of the clauses in it.

In Akure, the Ondo State House of Assembly passed the bill after the majority leader, Hon Jamiu Maito, moved a motion for the document to be submitted by the chairman of the House Committee on Security, Hon Ololade Begudu, and seconded by Hon Favour Tomowemo, who represents Ilaje Constituency II. Prior to the passing of the bill, all the state houses of assemblies had organised public hearings attended local residents.