Sleeping with two eyes open: Edo residents, stakeholders blame govt policies, police/govt imbroglio for rising crime

A renewed spate of kidnapping, armed robberies, assassination and other crimes has put Edo State on the edge, raising security alert in the state, writes BANJI ALUKO.

THE report kept coming on regular basis. It first started with the infamous killing by gunmen on September 24 of three policemen attached to Ogba Zoo and Nature Park, Benin, before the abduction of the head of the zoo, Dr Andy Ehanire.

As if that was not enough, kidnappers on October 3 abducted legendary Edo musician and social critic, Ambassador Osayomore Joseph at Orovie village in the outskirts of the Benin metropolis.

The following day, a lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Benin, Professor Paul Otasowie, was assassinated at the entrance to his house located at Siluko Road in Benin City.

Those were the most notable and reported crimes that have taken place in Edo State, particularly in Benin, the state capital, recently. In between, there were so many unreported cases of kidnapping.

In particular, the abduction and release of the Parish Priest of St. Benedict Church, Okpella, did not receive much media coverage. Perhaps the quickness of the release of the man of God made it less publicised. There was also a report of the kidnap and release of a banker last month. Such is the dateline of reports of crimes, particularly kidnappings that many are now living in fear in the state.

Kidnapping and other forms of crimes are new to Edo State. In order to tackle the menace, former governor, Adams Oshiomhole, had in 2013 signed a law that stipulates death penalty for kidnapping in the state. The capital punishment has, however, not fallen on anyone since its passage despite a litany of kidnapping cases in the courts.

It is not the lack of prosecution that worries many in Edo, but an upsurge in crime. Many residents are worried that many people fell victim the last time such upsurge was recorded in kidnapping. Some are particularly worried that they may be next victim. This is the reason many residents have been asking questions as to the remote causes of kidnapping in Edo.

According to an environment activist and Executive Director of African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Rev. David Ugolor, the reasons behind the recent upsurge in kidnapping and other crimes in Edo State could be connected to some policy changes effected by the government of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

According to him the new Community Development Association (CDA) Law that now prohibits some people, especially youths from collecting fictitious charges from land developers and the stoppage of contractors that hitherto collected traffic revenues on behalf of the state are some of the factors responsible.

“Government recently decided not to do business with some people. To me, it is a welcome development because one cannot continue with an unproductive venture and I commend the state government for that.

“Another one is the CDA Law. Now, people can build their houses without harassment from miscreants. The two are bold and unique and have brought sanity into the system.

“However, the policies have however taken jobs from some people. If the jobs are legitimate is a question for another day. One consequence of these policies is that more people have joined the unemployed cadre and revenues are no longer coming to them.

“When government started to embark on these policies, I expected that their immediate and long term effects would be considered. One of the immediate implications is the upsurge in crime and kidnapping in particular,” he noted

Ugolor also attributed the upsurge to what he termed breakdown of the security architecture in the state, pointing out that the police in the state were under-resourced, adding: “if you look at the feedback from government, you will see that the governor and the commissioner of police are not on the same page.”

To tackle the problem, Ugolor advised the state government to organise a public debate where people are allowed to express their views and proffer likely solutions.

Edo Civil Societies Organisations (CSOs), would rather blame the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, for the upsurge in crime. Last Monday, the CSOs asked the governor to explain how he spent the over N4 billion he has so far collected as security vote. The group therefore handed out a 14-day ultimatum to the state government, state House of Assembly and the police to put an end to the wave of violent crimes currently ravaging the state.

Coordinator of the group,  Comrade Omobude Agho, who led members on a protest march in Benin said, “Edo people now live in absolute fear and anxiety due to the several cases of high profile kidnapping, armed robbery and killing of innocent people.”

According to him, the state government must as a matter of urgency organise and strengthen local vigilantes and set up proper Neighbourhood Watch devoid of political patronage to assist security agencies.

Lending credence to the ‘rumour’ that all was not well between the state government and then Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwandu, was the protest march by indigenes of the state in Abuja.

In their protest letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari by the coordinator of the Edo State Concerned Citizens, the group noted that “while previous police commissioners posted to the state had done everything possible to check the activities of criminals operating in well-known flashpoints/areas to a minimum and tolerable level using available intelligence reports, we have long noticed a lethargic approach and rather nonchalant attitude by the current state police commissioner, Gwandu.”

The protesters, who stormed the National Assembly and the Police Command in Abuja, lamented that while Governor Obaseki and the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, were working round the clock to encourage investments into Edo State, the “IG has refused to support the government of Edo State in this effort.”

Penultimate week, a report from the office of the Media Adviser to Governor Obaseki, Crusoe Osagie, stated that Police Commissioner Haliru Gwandu had been redeployed from Edo State. The report raised some dust but it eventually settled mid last week when Governor Obaseki received a new Commissioner of Police, Johnson Babatunde Kokumo.

“We will give you the needed support to succeed. We believe that the responsibility for restoring law and order rests with the police. We hope that you will fulfill your constitutional responsibility by helping us enforce law and order in Edo State,” the governor said.

As the new police commissioner settles down, residents in the state are wondering if the new man at the helm of security affairs could change the security equation and put criminals on the run. They wonder how secure they could be and hope to sleep with their two eyes closed when the popular musician kidnapped weeks back has not yet been released by his abductors.