Senator Dino Melaye on Wednesday
raised the alarm that the Kogi state government has arbitrarily passed a law to
run an illegally armed vigilante with the mandate to take over the police
responsibility of protecting lives and property in the state.
This law said to be illegally
enacted was also considered to have contravened the law of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria and, in effect, undermined the constitutionally assigned security
functions of the Nigeria Police Force.
The upper chamber, therefore, has
mandated its committees on security and intelligence and the judiciary to meet
with the National Security Adviser to disband the group.
These resolutions followed a
point of order 42 and 52 raised by Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West
wherein he reported that the Kogi state government has a plan to introduce
state police through the back door.
In his explanation, he brought to
the attention of the Senate that there was a law passed by the Kogi state
government and signed by Governor Yahaya Bello.
He said the law talks about the
establishment of the vigilante service group.
In his words, ‘Mr. President, I
have a copy of the law here which is already a law of the Kogi State
government. By the time I perused this law, this law is in conflict with the
provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’.
‘This law, Mr. President alters
the function of the Nigeria Police as stipulated in section 214 of the
constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended’.
‘Mr. President, it is a fact that
states can make laws through the state houses of Assembly as enshrined in
section 4 of the1999 constitution as amended. But the laws they must make must
not be in conflict with the provision of the constitution’.
‘Mr. President, I seek your
indulgence to read a section of the law passed by Kogi state government. It
says, the vigilante group will be involved in the detection and prevention of
crime, the apprehension of criminal, the preservation of law and order, the
protection of life and property, will assist other security and para-military
agencies in the discharge of their duty, to assist other security agencies in government
installation, to assist other security agencies in maintaining law and order in
any economic, political and social gathering.
”There shall be a
comptroller-general of vigilante services and, deputy comptroller-general of
vigilante services”.
Melaye said the most affront on
the constitution was in section 15 of that law. “The vigilante service group
shall carry den guns, other guns and other light weapons that are commensurate
with their duties and responsibilities”.
Melaye further reminded the hallowed
chamber that this is how Boko Haram started. He said the group was being
equipped to wreck havoc on innocent citizens.
He added that the group was
already killing in many parts of the state.
He said, ‘there is record of
killings in Okene, Adavi, Lokoja and that this group are already carrying Ak-47
and pump action guns in broad daylight.”
The lawmaker said this
development has justified the reason why the state recently imported military
uniforms and hardware. And also justified why military gadgets were imported by
the state as sporting equipment.
Melaye you are a liar it is not how Boko Haram started go and do research about how BH.started. Also go to Rivers state there is security/vigilante group called Neighborhood watch created by the governor through state house of Assembly.
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