A bill to establish the Edo State Community Security Network Governance law scaled second reading at the state House of Assembly on Monday.

This followed the presentation of the bill’s general principles by the sponsor and majority leader, Charity Aiguobarueghian, at a plenary in Benin, the state capital.

Presenting the bill, Mr Aiguobarueghian said it sought to provide a legal framework for the security network already in existence in the state.

He said the challenges of insecurity in the country had become overwhelming, adding that Edo was not left out, hence the need for the operations of the committee security network to be backed by law.

Deputy Speaker Maria Edeko said the Community Security Network, popularly called the vigilance group, was closer to the people at the grassroots, stressing that it could fish out criminal elements within the community.

“The law is long overdue as the volunteers have been doing a great job providing security services to the people,” she said.

Other lawmakers who supported the bill’s passage said it would help send stronger warning signals to criminals and make the state safer.

The speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, after listening to the lawmakers’ contributions, passed the bill through the second reading.

Ms Agbebaku referred the bill to the House Committee on Safety and Security and mandated it to report in two weeks.

She condoled with the families of those who lost their lives in Okomu and Erha villages in Ovia South-west and Owan East Local Government Areas of the state.

(NAN)