Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, has called for urgent reinforcement and more effective enforcement of key security-related legislation in the state.
The Speaker said that to address rising insecurity and threats to food production, it was imperative to strengthen the Open Rearing and Grazing Regulation Law and the Oyo State Security Network Agency Law, which gave legal backing to the establishment of the Amotekun Corps.
Ogundoyin’s call was conveyed during the Assembly’s plenary session through a motion presented by the Chief Whip, Hon. Gbenga Oyekola.
He noted that the laws, though passed years ago, have not been fully operationalised to tackle the worsening security situation, particularly in rural and farming communities across the state.
He lamented the numerous challenges facing personnel of the Amotekun Corps, including inadequate manpower, lack of public awareness, and poor structural coordination, which have significantly hampered their operational efficiency. These deficiencies, he warned, are undermining the original intent of the laws: curbing open grazing, reducing farmer-herder clashes, and improving community safety.
Despite the passage of the Open Rearing and Grazing Regulation Law in October 2019 and the Amotekun Corps Law in March 2020, Ogundoyin said enforcement has remained weak, leaving many rural communities vulnerable to recurring threats such as farmland destruction, abductions, and violence stemming from illegal grazing activities.
Citing recent escalations of herder-farmer conflicts in other parts of the country such as Benue, Borno, and Yobe states, the Speaker described the situation as a wake-up call for Oyo State.
He warned that continued inaction could lead to similar crises if strategic interventions were not adopted promptly.
As part of his recommendations, Ogundoyin proposed a detailed post-legislative review of the two laws by the newly established Post Legislative Scrutiny Unit in the Assembly.
This review, he said, should be conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and should include robust consultations with key stakeholders — including traditional leaders, farming and herding groups, rural dwellers, and Amotekun officials — to identify areas of weakness and propose appropriate amendments.
“This motion represents a proactive measure to ensure the laws we pass are not only relevant but responsive to the challenges they are meant to address,” he stated.
“Security remains crucial to agricultural productivity, food sufficiency, and job creation. If we fail to act decisively, we risk worsening the already fragile security landscape in our state.”
He further stressed the importance of empowering the Amotekun Corps through adequate funding, training, and equipment, while also pushing for an expanded public sensitisation campaign to educate residents about the laws and their implications.
In line with the motion, the House directed its Committees on Security and Strategy, Agriculture and Rural Development to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the obstacles hindering law enforcement and to recommend innovative strategies to improve security coordination across the state.
Additionally, the Assembly tasked its Committees on Business and Rule, Agriculture, and Security to partner with the Post Legislative Scrutiny Unit in driving the review process, ensuring the laws are fine-tuned to meet current realities and deliver tangible protection to the people.
Lawmakers from various constituencies expressed unanimous support for the motion, recognising the growing need to bolster the state’s legislative framework to address evolving threats.
They reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to securing lives, promoting rural stability, and safeguarding agricultural livelihoods across Oyo State.
