The House of Representatives has urged the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Navy to urgently establish more security divisions and mobilise additional security personnel to Igbokoda and its neighbouring communities in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
While asking the police and navy to investigate the cause of insecurity in the area and bring the culprits to book, the House mandated its Committees on Police Affairs and Navy to ensure compliance with the resolution.
The resolution was sequel to the unanimous adoption of a motion moved by a member, Kolade Akinjo, which was titled ‘Call for Deployment of Security Operatives to Ilaje Land in Ilaje/Ese–Odo Federal Constituency of Ondo State.’
Akinjo, while moving the motion, noted that Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency is a littoral region with a population of 650,000, covering an area of 2,036km, sharing boundaries in the west with Ogun State and in the east with Delta State and having a shoreline stretching towards the Atlantic Ocean in the south and covering about 180km.
According to him, the statistics made Ondo the state with the longest coastline in Nigeria.
The lawmaker said, “The House is concerned that Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area, despite its size and population, has been a difficult terrain in recent times due to the cult clashes which often destroy properties, loss of lives and injury to members of the affected communities.
“The House is also concerned that the situation has caused untold hardships to the people who now live in constant fear of being attacked and are unable to freely conduct their businesses;
“The House is worried that the clashes have assumed a frightening dimension, with the killings that happened in broad daylight, even as a popular music Deejay known as DJ Donniyen was killed on his way to a musical concert.”
Akinjo recalled that in 2019, an appeal was made to establish more security outposts with adequate personnel in Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency, in addition to the existing two police stations located at Igbokoda in IIaje LGA and Igbekebo in Ese Odo LGA of Ondo State to secure the crime-prone area.
He noted that the security challenges confronting the IIaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency need the collaborative efforts of various security agencies, especially as the festive season is approaching.
“The House is disturbed that the prevalent insecurity in Ilaje land has adversely affected socio-economic activities in the affected communities and Ondo State at large,” Akinjo stated.
Similarly, the House unanimously adopted a separate motion moved by another member, Abdullahi Halims, which was titled ‘Need to Establish a Naval Security Outpost at Bagana Community in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State.’
Consequently, the House urged the Chief of Defence Staff to “approve the immediate establishment of a naval security outpost to man the vast waterways used by invaders.”
The lawmakers also urged the Nigeria Police Force to establish a Mobile Police unit in the community for rapid responses.
Halims recalled the clash between herders and the people of Agatu in 2013 which led to the displacement of a large number of victims, who relocated and settled at Bagana town in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State, which shares boundary with Benue and Nasarawa states.
The lawmaker noted that Bagana, a riverine community, is a famous business hub with “one of the most outstanding” cattle markets in the North–Central geopolitical zone, where trade by barter is still practised, thus making life easier for the inhabitants who are predominantly farmers.
He added that the ancient town of Bagana has over 35,000 inhabitants and comprises diverse ethnic tribes such as Igala, Agatu, Hausa, Nupe, Yoruba, Ebira, Igbo, Kanuri and many others due to its vantage location and the numerous economic activities that take place.
Halims said, “The House is concerned that Bagana is currently bedevilled with insecurity as warring factions of the infamous Agatu crisis who took refuge in Bagana are often clashing, which often result in the loss of lives and properties of members of the community.
“The House is cognisant of the urgent need for the Federal Government to intervene and protect the people of Bagana.”
Credit: PUNCH.
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