Kidnapping In Edo: Reps Call For Security Beef Up In Owan East, West LGAs
Kidnapping In Edo: Reps Call For Security Beef Up In Owan East, West LGAs
ABUJA – The House of Representatives has called on the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, and the Director General of the Department of State Security Services, (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, to step up actions in curtailing the incidents of kidnapping and banditry in Owan Federal Constituency and the country at large.
The House also urged the executive arm of government to initiate a holistic and implementable strategy, including immediate recruitment of officers, deployment of personnel, support for vigilance groups and local hunters, as well as dialogue with critical stakeholders to address the incessant kidnappings in the area.
The resolutions followed the consideration and adoption of a motion entitled: “Urgent Need to Beef-Up Security in Owan Federal Constituency to Mitigate the Increase in Kidnapping Activities”, brought by Julius O. Ihonvbere (APC, Edo).
Presenting the motion, Ihonvbere, who represents the affected areas in the House, stated that Owan Federal Constituency comprising Owan East and West local government areas of Edo State was currently besieged by kidnappers.
He said the unhealthy development has posed a threat to the peaceful existence and security of life and property in the constituency.
“As a border constituency with porous borders, bandits, kidnappers and other criminals fleeing from the actions of Amotekun in Ondo State have now fled into Owan Federal Constituency to continue their nefarious activities.
“The abduction and kidnapping have become more indiscriminate across the two local government areas as these criminal gangs view victims as a source of income and it is rather sad to note that the villagers have been largely ignored by the government.
“If this spate of kidnappings and abductions are not nipped in the bud, it poses the potential of crippling socio-economic activities in the constituency.
“Only as recent as the 14th of April 2021 as reported by Bell Magazine, 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 in another development, a council worker and his child were abducted along Sabo/ Uzebba Road and whisked off to unknown locations.
“The Otuo/Ihievbe-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,” he said.
