In response to rising incidents of mob violence and killings, the Senate has resolved to fast‑track a (proposed) bill that will formally regulate vigilante outfits and hunting activities nationwide.
The resolution followed a motion by Senator Sumaila Kawu who decried the March 27 attack where 16 travelers from North were intercepted by an illegal security group in Uromi, Edo State, accused of kidnapping, and consequently brutally killed, as a ‘gruesome violation’ of constitutional rights and a ‘chilling erosion of the rule of law’.
“It is unacceptable that citizens are killed without recourse to law or justice. The right to life is sacrosanct,” Kawu stated. 
Speaking during plenary on Tuesday, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, described the incidence as “a case of mistaken identity which also showed the state of apprehension in the country’, underscoring the need to put necessary legislation in place to avoid a reoccurrence.
Senator Rufai Hanga commended the Kano State government and traditional leaders for urging calm.
“Without their swift intervention, we could have witnessed an avoidable ethnic crisis,” he warned.
The Senate held a minute of silence in honour of the victims and resolved to support efforts by Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State to investigate and ensure accountability.
The Senate also called on the Senate Committees on National security and Intelligence, police affairs and Human Rights to monitor the responses of government and security agencies to the incident and adopt appropriate legislative measures to regulate and professionalize the operations of community security outfits and vigilante groups across the country.
The proposed bill will also require Hunters etc to report to the nearest police station when entering another state for hunting to enhance accountability and improved security.
