The House of Representatives has urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba and also the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi to as the arising matter of insurgency to step up actions against the incidents of kidnapping and banditry in Owan Federal Constituency and the Country as a whole.
They also implored the executive arm of government to initiate and implement a strong strategy including immediate recruitment of officers, deployment of troops, support for vigilante groups and local hunters as well as dialogue with critical stakeholders to immediately address the rampant kidnappings and abductions in the area.
It came at the peak of a motion titled “Motion on the urgent Need to Beef-Up Security in Owan Federal Constituency to Mitigate the Increase in Kidnapping Activities”, moved by Hon. Julius O. Ihonvbere representing the zone.
He said that the Owan Federal Constituency comprising of Owan East and West Local Government Areas of Edo State were currently surrounded by kidnappers and unhealthy developments of criminals fleeing from the actions of Amotekun in Ondo State and now into Owan Federal Constituency to continue their nefarious activities which posed as a threat to the peaceful existence and security of lives and property in the constituency.
Kidnappings and abduction have become more of a norm across the two local government areas as these criminal gangs see the victims as a source of income and it is rather sad to note that the villagers have been shunned by the government.
The lawmaker recalled a same incident on April 14, 2021, Dr. Blessing Aidenoje, a Medical Microbiologist at Ambrose Alli University, Edo State, who was abducted along Ozalla/Sabo Road in Owan West Local Government Area, while a Council worker and his child were abducted along Sabo/Uzebba Road and transported to unknown locations.
From Chapter 2, Section 14(2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) stated that the security of lives and property was one of the primary responsibilities of the state, Ihonvbere stated that the phenomenon has led to numerous loss of lives across the country, largely due to lapses in our security network.
“The House is convinced that proactive rather than reactive measures would go a long way in mitigating insecurity in various parts of the country”, Ihonvbere said
