Kano Assembly Passes Bill to Form State-Owned Security Corps

Ayomide Ogunsakin
4 Min Read

By Hassanat Adebowale

The Kano State House of Assembly has passed a bill to establish the Kano State Neighborhood Security Corps, following deliberations in the Committee of the Whole House during a plenary session led by Speaker Alhaji Jibrin Falgore (NNPP-Rogo). The bill was approved for its third reading and subsequently passed.

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Majority Leader, Alhaji Lawan Husseini (NNPP-Dala) highlighted that the bill underwent thorough legislative processes before its passage. He explained that the newly created security corps would function as a community policing body, complementing the efforts of other security agencies in the state.

Husseini emphasized that the establishment of the security outfit is crucial for enhancing internal security in Kano. Drawing comparisons with similar initiatives in southern Nigeria, such as the Amotekun corps, he highlighted the necessity for Kano to have its own dedicated security agency to bolster local security efforts.

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According to Husseini, the Kano State Neighborhood Security Corps will have the legal authority to carry firearms, as stipulated by law. The personnel will also have the power to arrest offenders and transfer them to the police for prosecution. He stressed that the recruits would be non-partisan and not affiliated with any political party.

“The personnel to be recruited will not be affiliated with any political party. The law grants security personnel the authority to carry firearms as stipulated by the law, make arrests, prevent crimes, and apprehend offenders throughout Kano State. The leadership of the outfit will be entrusted to a non-partisan indigene of the state,” Husseini stated.

The Majority Leader further detailed the structure of the security corps, noting that the Commander General will be a person of proven integrity, appointed based on merit. Each of the 44 local government areas in Kano will have a commander leading the corps’ personnel. The Commander General must be a retired security personnel from the Army or Police, with a minimum of 25 years of service and not below the rank of a Colonel or Commissioner of Police.

Additionally, the security agency will be overseen by a board, headed by a chairman appointed by the governor. This board will ensure the proper administration and effective functioning of the security corps.

Creating state-owned security outfits like the Kano State Neighborhood Security Corps brings up some key constitutional and legal issues. According to Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution, policing is under the federal government’s control. However, due to increasing security challenges, many states have taken matters into their own hands by setting up regional security outfits under their residual legislative powers.

However, the legal framework for allowing such bodies to bear arms remains a contentious issue, as the Firearms Act restricts weapon possession to federal security agencies unless expressly permitted by law. Therefore, for this new security initiative to work, there will need to be close coordination with federal authorities to make sure implementation is in line with existing laws.

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