Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Ogun State Executive Council has approved four landmark bills designed to tackle violent crimes, ritual killings, cultism, extortion and the growing challenge of missing persons across the state, in a bold move to strengthen security, protect residents and boost investor confidence. The approval, granted at the Council meeting held on Thursday, July 30, 2026, underscores the determination of the Prince Dapo Abiodun administration to deploy robust legislative measures to address emerging security threats while reinforcing Ogun State’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s safest and most attractive investment destinations.
The proposed legislations—the Group Liability for Offences of Violence, Extortion and Secret Societies (GLOVES) Bill, the Victims’ Rights Bill, the Human Sacrifice Prevention and Prohibition Bill, and the Missing Persons Bill—will be transmitted to the Ogun State House of Assembly for consideration in the coming days, according to a statement by the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Oluwasina Ogungbade, SAN. Ogungbade said the bills represent a comprehensive legal response to crimes that are either prevalent or increasingly becoming a threat to public safety in the state, providing a firm legal foundation to confront both current and emerging security challenges head-on.
The GLOVES Bill is aimed at dismantling criminal organisations by making every member of an unlawful or proscribed group jointly liable for crimes committed by fellow members in furtherance of the group’s objectives. The proposed legislation seeks to ensure that members of violent gangs, cult groups and similar criminal organisations cannot evade responsibility by distancing themselves from offences carried out by their associates. This approach targets the collective culpability of criminal networks, making it harder for individuals to hide behind group anonymity while committing violent acts.
The Victims’ Rights Bill will establish, for the first time in Ogun State, a structured legal framework for the protection and support of victims of crime throughout the criminal justice process. Beyond compensation and restitution, the bill guarantees attention to victims’ welfare during investigations, bail proceedings, prosecution, incarceration of offenders and even where suspects are not ultimately charged. It also provides for the establishment of a statutory office dedicated to protecting victims’ interests and coordinating advocacy on their behalf, ensuring that victims are not forgotten in the pursuit of justice.
The Human Sacrifice Prevention and Prohibition Bill specifically confronts the menace of ritual killings and human sacrifice by recognising them as distinct criminal offences requiring specialised legal treatment. The Attorney-General noted that the existing criminal laws were not designed with ritual-related crimes in mind and therefore leave significant gaps in prosecution and punishment. The proposed law introduces modern legal mechanisms to effectively combat the entire chain of activities associated with ritual killings, from the procurement of victims to the disposal of body parts.
The Missing Persons Bill is intended to strengthen investigations into missing persons cases by creating a clear statutory framework to guide law enforcement agencies. The bill is expected to remove legal bottlenecks that often delay investigations, particularly in accessing financial records, personal information and other materials critical to locating missing persons or identifying those responsible for their disappearance. This addresses a growing challenge in the state, where families have often been left without answers for months or years.
Ogungbade said the legislative package aligns with Governor Dapo Abiodun’s commitment to ensuring that Ogun State remains peaceful, secure and conducive to economic growth. He observed that as the state continues to attract significant domestic and foreign investments, strengthening the legal framework for public safety has become imperative to protecting lives, property and businesses while sustaining investor confidence. The Attorney-General disclosed that the four bills would be forwarded to the Ogun State House of Assembly in the coming days for legislative consideration and passage.
The approval of these bills comes amid rising concerns over violent crimes in Ogun State, including ritual killings, cultism, and extortion. The Ogun State Government has previously indicated its willingness to impose strict penalties, including the death penalty, for cult-related activities. The state has also recorded successes in combating cultism, with the police arresting 30 suspected cultists during an initiation procession in Isara-Remo in June 2026. In February 2026, the Attorney-General had revealed that a bill criminalising ritual killings had been finalised and would be submitted to the State House of Assembly within three weeks, a promise now fulfilled with the transmission of the Human Sacrifice Prevention and Prohibition Bill.
The legislative push also aligns with ongoing national efforts to strengthen Nigeria's security architecture, including the proposed establishment of state police. Governor Abiodun, who chairs the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Committee on State Police Creation, has expressed confidence that all 36 State Houses of Assembly will simultaneously approve the constitutional amendment bill seeking the creation of state police. He has described the initiative as a landmark step towards strengthening Nigeria’s internal security architecture and has called for far-reaching judicial, fiscal and institutional reforms to ensure the success of the proposed State Police system.
As the four bills move to the Ogun State House of Assembly for consideration, they represent a significant step in the state's efforts to combat violent crime and protect its citizens. The proposed legislation, if passed, will provide law enforcement agencies with modern legal tools to tackle the root causes of insecurity while ensuring that victims of crime receive the support and justice they deserve. The Abiodun administration has made it clear that it will not relent in its determination to make Ogun State a safe and secure environment for all residents and investors.
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