Juliet Akoje in Abuja
The House of Representatives yesterday urged President Bola Tinubu to curb the incessant attacks by kidnappers, assassins, bandits and other criminal elements in Isuikwuato and Umunneochi Local Government Areas of Abia State.
It urged the President to direct the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Air Force, Nigeria Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to intensify checks and other security measures around the Regional Cattle market in Lokpanta along the Enugu-Port
Harcourt Expressway, Uturu-Okigwe Road, Ihube-Isuochi Road, ABSU junctionAkara Road; Uturu-Afikpo Road, Umuaku-Umunze Road, Awgu-Ishiagu Road and environs.
The House also called on the Chief of Army Staff, the Inspector General of Police and Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to set up a joint patrol team to comb the farmlands
and forests to root out kidnappers, bandits and all criminal elements in all parts of Isuikwuato and Umunneochi Local Government Areas of Abia State.
The lawmakers consequently set up an ad hoc committee to interface with the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, the Inspector-General of Police and the Commandant-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps to determine measures aimed at reducing the
incessant attacks of kidnappers, assassins and bandits and other criminal elements in and around Isuikwuato and Umunneochi Local Government Areas of Abia State and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah at plenary on Thursday.
Ogah noted the lingering attacks by the kidnappers, assassins, bandits and perpetrators of various heinous crimes in Isuikwuato and Umunneochi Local Government Areas of Abia State, adding that bandits and criminal elements have forced the Nigerian Military to close traffic on the Ihube-Isuochi road at the Lomara Military checkpoint for a long time.
“The Regional Cattle Market at Lokpanta on the Enugu Port Harcourt Expressway has persistently been used as a human shield by criminal elements with the presence of military checkpoints dotted significantly along that route. It was aware that the settlers and traders at the Regional Cattle Market at Lokpanta are peaceful and law abiding citizens”
“Continued use of the cattle market as human shield could lead to a misinterpretation that can make the market vulnerable to attacks. The House is disturbed that the incessant attacks on the communities within Isuikwuato and Umunneochi Local Government Areas has forced residents to flee their homes and abandon farmlands and other means of production and livelihood”.
He however noted the security risks and untold hardship suffered by users of Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway through Lokpanta, Ihube-Isuochi road, Uturu-Okigwe Road, ABSU junction- Akara Road, Uturu-Afikpo Road, Umuaku-Umunze Road, Awgu Ishiagu Road and other roads within
Isuikwuato and Umunneochi Local Government Areas.
“The House is cognizant of the need to increase military presence and patrols in the above roads and Local Government Areas to restore normalcy and earn the confidence of citizens as they carry out their daily business activities”
