Alarmed by the growing threat of violent crimes, ritual killings, cultism and unresolved missing persons cases, the Ogun State Government has approved four sweeping security bills aimed at strengthening law enforcement and closing legal gaps exploited by criminal networks.
The legislations, approved by the State Executive Council at its meeting on Thursday, are expected to be transmitted to the Ogun State House of Assembly in the coming days as part of the government’s renewed efforts to reinforce public safety, protect lives and property, and sustain investor confidence in the state.
The proposed bills are 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.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), said the legislative package was designed to address crimes that have become prevalent or pose emerging threats to public safety in Ogun State.
According to him, the GLOVES Bill seeks to dismantle organised criminal groups by making every member of an unlawful or proscribed organisation jointly liable for crimes committed by fellow members in furtherance of the group’s objectives.
“The bill is aimed at ensuring that members of violent gangs, cult groups and similar criminal organisations cannot evade responsibility by distancing themselves from offences carried out by their associates,” Ogungbade said.
He explained that the proposed Victims’ Rights Bill would, for the first time in Ogun State, establish a comprehensive legal framework to protect and support victims throughout the criminal justice process.
Beyond compensation and restitution, he said the bill guarantees attention to victims’ welfare during investigations, bail proceedings, prosecution, the incarceration of offenders, and even in cases where suspects are not eventually charged. It also provides for the establishment of a statutory office dedicated to safeguarding victims’ interests and coordinating advocacy on their behalf.
Speaking on the Human Sacrifice Prevention and Prohibition Bill, the Attorney-General said the proposed legislation directly confronts the menace of ritual killings by recognising them as distinct criminal offences requiring specialised legal treatment.
“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,” he stated.
Ogungbade added that the Missing Persons Bill would strengthen investigations into disappearance cases by creating a clear statutory framework for law enforcement agencies. According to him, the bill will 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.
He noted that the legislative package aligns with Governor Dapo Abiodun’s commitment to ensuring that Ogun State remains peaceful, secure and conducive to economic growth.
“As Ogun 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 said.
The four bills will now be transmitted to the Ogun State House of Assembly for legislative consideration and passage.
The proposed reforms represent one of the most comprehensive security-focused legislative initiatives by the Abiodun administration, targeting not only perpetrators of violent crimes but also strengthening protection for victims while equipping law enforcement agencies with enhanced legal tools to investigate and prosecute increasingly sophisticated criminal activities.
