*seeks security beef up in Cross Rivers
Udora Orizu
The House of Representatives at plenary on Tuesday, urged the Department of State Services (DSS), police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other security agencies to quickly get to the root of all unresolved cases of kidnappings and other crimes across the country.
The lower chamber also mandated its relevant committees to work with the security agencies and report back to the House in six weeks for further legislative action.
The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance, titled ‘Need to look into cases of unresolved kidnap, insecurity in the South-east’, sponsored by Hon. Chris Azubogu.
Moving the motion, Azubogu noted that there have been a lot of cases of missing persons in the South-east and in Anambra State in particular.
The lawmaker, who made reference to one Mr. Obiora Agbasimalo, the candidate of Labour Party in the just concluded Anambra governorship election, who was kidnapped on September 18, 2021 in Anambra State, lamented that about five engineers working with Melan Consultants in Effium, Ebonyi State were kidnapped on November 3, 2021, adding that nothing been heard about their whereabouts till date.
According to him, the numerous other unresolved cases have created a high level of insecurity in the South-east.
He said: “Concerned that till today, many weeks after and still counting, nothing has been heard about most of these cases. Cognisant that these persons have families and loved ones who are already broken and left in perpertual agony.”
He said that if nothing tangible is done to, at least provide hope for the families, the country might end up losing them too.
In a related development, the lawmakers also at plenary while adopting a motion sponsored by Hon. Alex Egbona, urged the Inspector General of Police (IG), Usman Alkali Baba, to deploy troops and beef up security to put an end to criminal activities in Abi/Yakurr constituency of River State, in order to forestall further loss of lives and properties.
The House also mandated its Committee on Police Affairs to ensure compliance.
Egbona had, while moving the motion, noted the increased criminal activities by syndicates who specialize in kidnapping and other forms of militancy around the waterways in the constituency.
He lamented that the incessant abductions and other forms of criminality typify the height of insecurity that has forced prominent indigenes to seek refuge in neighbouring states of Abia, Benue, Ebonyi and Enugu.
While saying that the activities of the criminals have brought untold hardship to the people of the affected communities, he added that the rate of crime in the area has assumed a disturbing dimension with the wanton raid on business outfits and cold-blooded murder of prominent industrialists and economic actors, as well as policemen and other security operatives.
