The House of Representatives on Thursday called on the Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP’ Usman Alkali Baba, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mallam Yusuf Bichi, to immediately set necessary machinery in motion to stop the increasing cases of kidnapping and banditry in the country.
This followed the adoption of a motion on the urgent need to beef up security in the Owan Federal Constituency of Edo State to mitigate against the increase in kidnapping activities sponsored by Hon Julius O. Ihonvbere.
In addition, the House urged the Executive Arm of Government to come up with a holistic implementable strategy, to immediately address the incessant kidnappings and abductions in Owan Federal Constituency of Edo State and other parts of the country.
According to the lawmaker, such strategies include the immediate recruitment of officers, deployment of personnel, support for vigilante groups and local hunters as well as dialogue with critical stakeholders.
The House mandated the Committee on Police Affairs and National Security Intelligence to ensure implementation and report back to the House of full compliance with the resolutions.
Moving the motion, the lawmaker said, the House: ” the notes that Owan Federal Constituency, comprising Owan East and West Local Government Areas of Edo State, is currently besieged by kidnappers, which now poses a threat to the peaceful existence and security of lives and property in the Constituency;
Also notes that as a border Constituency with porous borders, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminals fleeing from the actions of Amotekun in Ondo State, have now fled to Owan Federal Constituency to continue their nefarious activities;
Further notes that abduction and kidnappings have become more indiscriminate across the two local government areas as criminal gangs view victims as sources of income and therefore sad to note that the villagers have been largely ignored by the government.
“Aware that if this spate of kidnappings and abductions are not nipped in the bud, it has the potential of crippling socio-economic activities in the Constituency.
“Also aware of recent as a report by Bell Magazine of 14 April 2021 that Dr Blessing Aidenoje, a medical microbiologist at Ambrose Ali University, Edo State was abducted along Ozalla/Sabo Road in Owan West Local Government Area, while in another development, a council worker and his child were abducted along Sabo/Uzebba Road and whisked off to unknown locations.
“Also aware that the Otuo/lhievbe-Ogbe roads, as well as Uokha/ Afuze roads in Owan East Local Government Area, have become the operational grounds of the kidnappers, thereby making the villagers live in constant fear for their lives.
Further aware of that Section 14(2) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) which provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of the government, alas there has been numerous loss of lives across the country largely due to lapses in security.
“Convinced that proactive rather than reactive measures would go a long way in mitigating insecurity in various parts of the country.”
When the motion was put into voice Vote by the Deputy Speaker who presided over the plenary, it was unanimously supported by members.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents
In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. Insecurity: Reps urge IGP, DG-DSS to stop increasing cases of Kidnapping, Banditry ; Reps urge IGP, DG-DSS to stop increasing cases of Kidnapping, Banditry ; Insecurity: Reps urge IGP, DG-DSS to stop increasing cases of Kidnapping, Banditry ; Insecurity: Reps urge IGP, DG-DSS to stop increasing cases of Kidnapping, Banditry.
and then