The House of Representatives has decried the spate of killings, kidnappings, and other forms of violent crimes in Esan North East and Esan South East Federal Constituency of Edo State.
Adopting a motion under matters of urgent national importance sponsored by Prince Henry Odianosen Okojie at the plenary Tuesday presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abass, the House directed DSS, the Nigeria Army, the Nigeria Police force, and other relevant agencies, to conduct an intensive investigation to curb the ugly trend.
The House also urged the federal government, through the Defence Headquarters to establish a military base in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area to enhance security presence and response capabilities in the region.
The House thereby mandated its Committees on Defence, Army, National Security and Intelligence, Police, and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance and report back within four weeks for further legislative actions.
Okojie while moving the motion noted that crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, rape, and cult-related killings are now reported almost daily, necessitating serious and tactical operations to stem the situation, which is nearing a state of despair. The Police seem to be helpless or overwhelmed by the problem.
He stated that those behind the heinous act operate predominantly along the rail route from Uzea to Ugboha, Amedokhian, Udo, Eko-Ibadin, and Ubiaja to Ewohimi in the Esan North East/Esan South East Federal Constituency of Edo State, and have escalated their activities to include kidnapping people in their homes.
Stating that he is saddened by the development which has caused his constituents to live in fear, experience psychological trauma, and suffer a significant decline in their overall sense of security, the lawmaker recalled how numerous people have been killed, and their mutilated bodies have been recovered, showing signs of organ harvesting.
He particularly referred to the number of victims, including Mr. Sylvester and his mother, Mr. Kingsley Okoboh, Mr. Odion Onobhoebhin, Mr. Akhere, Mrs. Magaret Akpa, Mr. Monday Ikah, Mr. Eboh, Mr. Ehiabhili (the Chairman of the Tipper Drivers’ Association), Madam Sokoto, Miss Peace, Mr. Eze, Seminarian Ephraim Akhere, Mr. Victor and his wife, Mr. Samuel Inegbenebor, Miss Faith (an undergraduate student who is still in the hospital), 16-year-old Becky (who remains traumatized after being raped and mishandled), and three Youth Corps members, among numerous others.
Nevertheless, he commended the efforts of Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Executive Governor of Edo State, for his innovative actions, including the establishment of a Joint Security Taskforce (Operation Rescue) to address the escalating
The initiative by the Governor, he said includes the purchase and empowerment of security vehicles and other gadgets across the state, as well as the restructuring of the Edo State Security Corps to strengthen community-based security measures which have started yielding positive results.
