Edo youths from Owan East and West Local Government Areas of the state have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the Inspector General of Police and the Police Service Commission to set up counter terrorism units in their local government areas as taking this proactive measure will address the rate of banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities in that part of the state.
They said the criminals who managed to escape from the Amotekun Corps in Ondo State have taken refuge in their forests, constantly harassing, intimidating and injuring law abiding citizens in the aforementioned local government areas.
The youth acknowledged the investments made by the Edo State Government towards ridding the state of criminal elements. However, they said this should be complemented by the Federal Government through the Nigeria Police Force having its special unit in that region of the state.
The letter reads thus:
OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT TINUBU, POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION, IGP
His Excellency
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR
President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Aso Rock, Abuja.
Chief Dr. Solomon E. Arase, CFR, NPM, fdc, (IGP, Rtd)
The Chairman
Police Service Commission
Federal Secretariat Complex
Abuja.
IGP KAYODE ADEOLU EGBETOKUN, Ph.D, NPM
The Inspector-General of Police
Louis Edet House
Shehu Shagari Way
Central Business District
Area 11 Abuja.
Dear Sir,
URGENT NEED TO ESTABLISH NIGERIA POLICE’s COUNTER TERRORISM UNIT (CTU) IN OWAN LAND
I wish to bring to your notice, the issue of kidnappings, armed robbery, cult killings, banditry and other security challenges in Edo State.
As a concerned citizen of Nigeria, particularly, as an indigene/resident of the state, it is disheartening to realize that kidnappings, armed robbery, cultism, and other forms of criminal activity have eaten deep into the state and have continued to threaten the safety of lives and property.
The unhealthy development had posed a threat to the peaceful existence and security of lives and property in the state.
As local government areas that share porous borders with other states, bandits, kidnappers and other criminals fleeing from the actions of Amotekun in Ondo State have now occupied forests in Owan West & Owan East Local Government Areas of Edo State. to continue their nefarious activities.
The abductions and kidnappings have become more indiscriminate across the two local government areas as these criminal gangs view victims as sources of income.
If the spate of kidnappings and abductions are not nipped in the bud, it poses the potential of crippling socio-economic activities in the area.
These criminals have set up camps in forests and carry out their heinous crimes from there. The incidents of robbery and kidnappings have been on the rise in recent times, most of the cases are either unreported or unsolved.
The Akure-Uzebba-Ekpoma, Aduze-Uokha-Auchi, and Sabongida-Ozalla roads are known hotspots for these crimes.
On April 14, 2021, Dr. Blessing Aidenoje, a Medical Microbiologist at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma 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.
Otuo/Ihievbe-Ogbe roads, as well as Uokha/Afuze roads in Owan East Local Government Area, had become the operational grounds of the kidnappers, who had made the villagers live in constant fear for their lives.
Over 12 people including a nine-year-old girl were reportedly kidnapped along the Auchi-Ihievbe-Afuze Road linking Etsako West and Owan East local government area of Edo state between 6 and 7 pm on Tuesday, May 4, 2023.
The kidnapped passengers were said to be travelling to Auchi when the gunmen emerged from the bush, forced their vehicle to a halt and led them into the bush.
In another sad event, armed men suspected to be Fulani herders, on Tuesday 6th of March 2023, invaded Sobe in Owan West Local Government area of Edo State. The attackers left a villager injured and many others displaced.
Also in 2019 Unknown gunmen abducted the All Progressives Congress ( APC) candidate for the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Michael Ohio-Ezomon, from his house at Eme-Ora, Owan West Local Government Area of the state.
Recalling that Chapter 2, Section 14(2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) stated that the security of lives and property is one of the primary responsibilities of the state, this phenomenon has led to loss of lives across the country, largely due to lapses in our security network.
I am convinced that proactive rather than reactive measures would go a long way in mitigating insecurity in various parts of Owan West & Owan East LGAs.
Despite the efforts of the local and state governments, the rate of killings, kidnappings, and armed robberies in Owan West & Owan East Local Government Areas is alarming.
There are about 47 communities in Owan West & Owan East Local Government Areas alone, and the people living in these areas are constantly living in fear due to the activities of these armed Fulani herders and other criminal elements.
As a concerned citizen, I appeal to you to take action by establishing a Counter Terrorism Unit of The Nigeria Police Force in the area. This will go a long way in strengthening security and curbing the activities of these criminal elements in Edo State entirely.
I believe that everyone living in Owan Land and other areas of the state will be appreciative and relieved if these issues are considered and acted upon.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Yours faithfully,
OWAN YOUTH COUNCIL
Mr. Felix O. Esezobor
