Insecurity: Deploy personnel to Edo communities, Reps urge IGP, DSS, others

The House of Representatives on Thursday urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa and the Director General, Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi to urgently deploy their personnel to tackle the worsening insecurity in Itsukwi, Imiakebu, Imiegba and Okpekpe communities in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.

This followed the adoption of a motion moved under public urgent importance by Hon Billy Osawaru, member representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency of Edo State,

The lawmaker while moving the motion titled “Urgent need to deploy security agents to Itsukwi, Imiegba, Okpekpe and Imiakebu communities to halt herdsmen’s onslaught against innocent citizens,” drew the attention of the House to the provision of Section 14 (b) of the 1999 Constitution (As amended) on the need for government to provide security and welfare for the people.

He also pointed out that Section 17 (b) of the Constitution “Provides that the sanctity of the human person shall be recognised and human dignity shall be maintained and enhanced; governmental actions shall be humane.

“Chapter 4 of the nation’s Constitution in Section 33 (1) provides that “Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria.

“The House is aware that on Monday, October 28, 2024, herdsmen invaded Ugbereke, a popular farmland known for its fertility and destroyed completely the yam plantation of a youth leader in Itsukwi community (Ward 9, Etsako East Local Government Area, Edo State), Mr Samuel Igbeneghu.

“The House is also worried that on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, three farmers by the names Umuagene Obey, Emuesugheli Obi and Ogbitabu Imoudumhe (all from Okpekpe community in Ward 10, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State were ambushed on the way to their farms and brutally murdered by suspected herdsmen.

“Same day, the killers made their way to Ugbereke, and killed one Undyar Aondongu (male) while five women were beaten and left to flee with various degrees of injuries.”

Osawaru added that as a result of these violent campaigns, “Farmers in these communities no longer visit their farms for fear of being attacked or killed.”

The Lawmaker cautioned that if the Federal Government failed to take urgent steps to address the crisis, “Acute hunger owing to food scarcity would be the natural consequence, not just for the people of the area but the entire Etsako East Local Government Area and by extension, Edo State as a whole.”

When the motion was put into voice vote, it was unanimously supported by members and the Speaker, Rep Tajudeen Abbas who presided over the Plenary referred the motion to the appropriate House committees for for further legislative action

The House directed the immediate deployment of security agents to the four communities and mandated the Inspector General of Police and other relevant security agencies to investigate the tragic incident and fish out the perpetrators for prosecution,

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