The Deputy Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Maria Edeko, on Tuesday, raised the alarm over the increasing rate of kidnappings in Uromi and Uzea communities in Esan North-East Local Government Areas of the state.
The alarm was raised in a matter of urgent public importance co-sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Maria Omozele Oligbi-Edeko representing Esan North-East Constituency II, Donald Okogbe and nine lawmakers on the floor of the House.
Moving the motion, Edeko noted that the activities of the kidnappers had made life difficult for the people of the areas as they could no longer go to their farms and carry out their daily commercial activities.
She said this has made people in different parts of Uromi community live in fear and close their businesses earlier than usual.
She said,
“My people are under siege in Uromi and environs. Some people were reportedly kidnapped at various times and locations in Uromi by armed gunmen and were only released after seven days while some others have not been released.
“It is now common knowledge that the kidnappers often request ransom, food, illicit drugs and recharge cards from families of kidnapped victims.
“The activities of kidnappers in Uromi and Uzea communities forced the United Uromi Youth Association to protest and urge the government and security agencies to protect the people from kidnappers,” Edeko said.
In her consequential motion, Edeko called on the commissioner of Police and state security network to deploy security personnel to comb the bushes, mount surveillance in the affected areas to prevent further attack on the people with a view to arresting and prosecuting the kidnappers.
She further also tasked the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Commissioner of Police and Department of Special Service on intelligence gathering with a view of arresting and prosecuting those manufacturing, selling and distributing illicit drugs within Esan North-East local government Area and Edo State in general, adding that, drug is a catalyst for crime.
A lawmaker, Hon. Donald Okogbe, who also narrated the ordeal his constituency had gone through, said that about 15 persons have so far been kidnapped in different parts of Akoko-Edo local government with one killed while five others are still missing to date.
Other lawmakers unanimously supported the motion and called for urgent measures to stem the menace of kidnapping in order to ensure the security of lives and properties in every nook and cranny of the state.
The Assembly Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, thereafter directed the clerk of the house, Yahaya Omogbai, to forward clean copies of the resolution to the relevant authorities for immediate action.