By Gift Chapi Odekina
The House of Representatives on Thursday called on the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, and the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, to as a matter of urgency put an end to the incidents of kidnapping and banditry across the country.
The resolution followed a motion on the urgent need to beef-up security in Owan Federal Constituency to mitigate against the increase in kidnapping activities by Rep. Julius Ihonvbere.
The House also 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.
This the house said includes the immediate recruitment of officers, deployment of personnel, support for vigilante groups and local hunters as well as dialogue with critical stakeholders. Moving the motion, Ihonvbere noted 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.
He further noted that as a border Constituency with porous borders, bandits, kidnappers and other criminals fleeing from the actions of Amotekun in Ondo State, have flooded Owan Federal Constituency to continue their nefarious activities.
He expressed sadness that the villagers have been largely ignored by the government. Lending their voice to the motion lawmakers said if the spate of kidnappings and abductions are not nipped in the bud, it could cripple socio-economic activities in the Constituency.
They said they were aware of a recent report that Dr. Blessing Aidenoje, a medical microbiologist at Ambrose Alli University, Edo State 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 whisked off to unknown locations.
They said they were 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 to live in constant fear for their lives.
While the lawmakers called for proactive measures to deal with insecurity in various parts of the country, the House thefore mandated it’s Committee on Police Affairs and National Security Intelligence to ensure implementation.
