By Christiana Ekpa
The House of Representatives, Wednesday asked the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya and the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali to set up a Nigeria Army Barracks as well as a Forward Operating Base (FOB) and a Police Mobile Force Base respectively within Edo Central Senatorial District of Edo State to provide adequate security.
The House equally urged Alkali to deploy more mobile police personnel to the area.
Recall that the President of Customary Court, Mrs Precious Aigbonog was adducted on her way to court around Ugoneki Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State on January 9, 2023 and that of the former member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr Festus Edughele at Ugoneki town on his way to board a flight to Abuja in Benin City on the same day.
The House resolutions the adoption of a motion titled “Need to Beef up Security Formations in Edo Central Senatorial District of Edo State” moved at the plenary by Hon. Sergius Ogun representing Esan federal constituency of the Edo State.
Presenting the motion, Ogun said “The spate of kidnappings, armed robbery attacks and insecurity generally in the country, especially in Edo Central Senatorial District of Edo State, thus leading to the loss of lives, and properties and is causing palpable fear and apprehension among residents.
“Also of concern was the subsequent death of DSP Michael Adams which occurred during the rescue operation by a team of the Nigerian Army and the Police over a gun duel with the kidnappers.
“Recognizing the primary responsibility of the government to provide security and welfare for the people of Nigeria, the House urged the security agencies to beef up security in the affected senatorial district.
“On Monday 9 January, 2023, Mrs Precious Aigbonog the President of Customary Court was kidnapped on her way to court around Ugoneki Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State;l.
“Also, a former member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr Festus Edughele, was also kidnapped on January 9, 2023 at Ugoneki town on his way to board a flight to Abuja in Benin City.
“These sad incidents occurred two days after 20 train passengers were kidnapped at the Igueben Train Station while waiting to board a train to Warri, Delta State.
“The concerted effort by the team of Nigeria Army and Nigeria Police Force which led to the rescue of the President of the Igueben Customary Court and Mr Festus Edughele as well as 18 out of the 20 Train Passengers kidnapped.
“The death of DSP Michael Adams during the rescue operation by the Nigerian Army and the Police officers as a result gun duel with the kidnappers.
“The urgent need to beef up security formations in the entirety of Edo Central Senatorial District of Edo State to forestall kidnappings and eradicate other acts of criminality in Esan land and Edo State.
“The setting up of a Police Mobile Force Base and a Nigeria Army Barracks/Forward Operating Base (FOB) within Edo Central Senatorial District will go a long way in wadding off perpetrators of crimes and criminality from Esan land and Edo State in general”.
Adopting the motion, the House observed a minute of silence in honour of the deceased police officer, DSP Michael Adams, who paid the supreme sacrifice while in active service while
mandating its Committees on Army and Police Affairs to ensure compliance and report back within 4 weeks for further legislative action.
In a related development, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to immediately embark on the construction of a pedestrian bridge across the expressway of Okada junction on the Benin-Ore-Lagos Road, Edo State to save the lives of Nigerians forced to run across the highway on daily basis.
Titled “Need to Construct a Pedestrian Bridge on the Benin-Ore-Lagos Road by Okada Junction”, the motion was moved at the plenary by Hon. Dennis Idahosa.
Presenting the motion, Idahosa noted that the Benin-Ore-Lagos express road was one of the busiest highways in Nigeria with the high volume of vehicles connecting the southwest to the southeast, north and south-south zones of the country.
He said: “The road connecting Okada town, Iguobazuwa communities and Benin City on the expressway is a popular Okada Junction, a hub for commercial buses and traders running through over 15 minutes of pedestrian and commercial activities.
“The lives of Nigerians who go about their daily activities on the Okada junction are endangered by the absence of a pedestrian flyover, thus resulting in the loss of lives.
“Residents have continually made a public outcry to the government to construct a pedestrian bridge at Okada junction to avert accidents and loss of lives.
“Apart from the dangers to which human lives are exposed, another challenge is that the non-availability of pedestrian bridges discourages residents from hustling for their daily economic activities.
“School children, traders and workers have been crushed to death and injured in their attempt to cross the express road”.
Adopting the motion, the House mandated its Committees on Works and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance with the resolutions.
