Date: 2018-03-25

In a bid to halt the nefarious activities of those dealing in removing and selling human parts and as well discouraging the production, sales and consumption of alcohol in some parts of Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, the state House of Assembly has passed two different bills into law. They include a bill prohibiting unlawful dealing in human parts and "Ilorin Township (Prohibition Against the Production, Sale and Consumption of Liquor in Certain Areas) Law, 2018".

The two bills prescribed stringent punishments for anyone found dealing in human parts; and sales, production and consumption of alcohol in the designated areas in Ilorin metropolis.

Before the two bills were passed by the state House of Assembly, there had been serious concerns about the activities of some people exhuming human corpses at both the private and public cemeteries in Ilorin. There were also concerns about the proliferation of hotels and guest houses in residential areas within the state capital, a development capable of encouraging the youths to indulge in immoral and anti – social behaviours such as consumption of alcohol and drug abuse.

The stakeholders had reasoned that if nothing was done to halt the proliferation of hotels in the metropolis and restrict sales and consumption of alcohol, some unguided youths might take to crime. It was in response to the people's yearnings that the state legislators under the leadership of the speaker, Dr Ali Ahmad acted swiftly to enact the two bills. The state governor, Alh Abdulfatahi Ahmed did not also waste time in signing the two bills into law. The bill prohibiting dealings in human parts was sponsored by a member representing Owode/Onire Constituency, Hon AbdulRasheed Taiwo Abdullahi.

Under the law, whoever buys, sells or has in his possession for the purpose of buying or selling or trafficking any human parts, commits an offence and liable to not less than 10 years imprisonment. The law also makes it an offence for anybody to look for, give, receive, sell or use things used to bath, clean or remove from human corpse. The Speaker, Dr. Ali Ahmad, expressed delight over the passage of the bill which he said reflects the wishes of the people of the state.

He therefore, warned perpetrators of the evil act, including landlords harbouring ritualists, grave diggers and traffickers that the punishment is 10-15 years imprisonment and fines of N100,000. Under the Ilorin township( Prohibition against the production, sale and consumption of liquor in certain areas) Law 2018, no person will be allowed to produce, sell, store or openly consume alcohol within specified areas in the metropolis. Any person who contravenes the provision of this law shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding N100, 000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or both.

The areas covered by the law include from Ilorin Central mosque through Emir's road to Aluko bridge,Gambari road and Ojagboro,lshao road, Karumo road, Isalekoko and Okesuna,Ajanaku, Edun, Sakama, Asunnara and Isale Maliki,from Central mosque to Aluko stream, including Alapata, Agaka-Oke, Agaka Isale, Eruda, Gegele, Faagba and Ehinkule Oba,from Government High School roundabout to Ita-Oloko Nla through Kuntu, Popo Omo-Oba, Isale Aluko, Jaji street and Alanamu, Dada, Alawo-nla, Ondoko, Kankatu, Isale Elesin and Okelele,from Isale-Oja to Pakata roundabout, including Oke-Ebo Alaso, Ita-Nma and Oke-Anifowoshe,from Idi-Ape Jumat Mosque to Fonma stream, including Alimi Road and Omoda, from Government High School roundabout to Oloje, including Oke Agodi, Idigba and Oke-Anifowoshe Others are from Old-Yidi road junction through Ita Amodu to Niger road/Emirs' road junction, from Niger road junction to Isale-Oja roundabout through Abdulazeez Attah road, Nasfat village to National Youth Centre, from Geri-Alimi roundabout, Asa Dam road including Joro village, Harmony Diagnostic centre area and New Yidi road to Folawiyo road from Edun road junction, Opo-malu road to Amilegbe bridge to Gambari road/Sobi road junction including Ipata, Alagbado to Specialist Hospital junction from Specialist Hospital junction, Alagbado area, Medina to Oko-Olowo, from Harmony Housing Estate junction to Zango junction, which include areas on both sides of the road, from Sabo-Oke junction to Oyun Bridge, from Pakata roundabout to Alore junction, including Oloje and Banni. Meanwhile, the Kwara State Cool Spots Association of Nigeria has appealed to the state government to consider lifting ban on alcoholic sales and consumption in some parts of Ilorin, the state capital. The state president of the association, Chief Moses Ola said the Kwara State House of Assembly had earlier shun their plea over the issue. According to him, the association was not consulted by the lawmakers before passing the bill.

"We wrote to the Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr. Ali Ahmad during the consideration of the bill, to invite and hear from us but he replied that it's too late, " Ola explained. He appealed to Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed to consider them by lifting the ban since they are employers of labour in the state. "We are also paying our taxes thereby contributing to the economic growth of the state. Most of us are licensed to operate our cool spots, "he added.

In its own reaction, the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria(MMWG) commended the state House of Assembly for passing the law prohibiting sales, possession and having anything to do with human parts. The group in a statement by its national coordinator, Alh Ibrahim Abdullahi said the law was necessary in view of criminal activities of some irresponsible elements in the society who are reportedly trading in human parts leading to exhumations of human bodies in their graves for purpose of rituals in search for money and evil machinations.

"This criminal act could not be diligently prosecuted as the law in the Penal Code provided minor punishment for the crime. "With the new law by the state House of Assembly, several offenders are to be punished severely by going to jail for 10 years without option of fine and this will reduce the crime in the Society.

"Kwara State Legislature needs be commended as they have taken several laudable steps to pass laws that are of high significance on the lives and welfare of the people. "Similarly, this legislation ought to emerge in other States in the Federation especially in the South West, South East and South-South where crime of this nature are rampant.

"We call on the Security Agencies especially the Police and the State Security Services to be diligent, dedicated and committed by rising to the challenge posed by this ignoble act by arresting and prosecuting the offenders promptly and diligently to reduce the crime in the Nigerian society".