BENIN CITY - Edo State House of Assembly has decried the resurgence of criminal activities in the state, which have led to the death of some prominent law abiding citizens of the state.
The House was particular about the recent killing of the Deputy Registrar of the University of Benin, Dr. John Ighodaro who was–assassinated last week by unknown gunmen in the state.
Reacting to the matters of urgent public importance moved by Hon Fred Omoigberai (Owan East) on the level of insecurity in the state, the Speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Zakawanu Garuba urged the state police command to take positive steps to ensure that those arrested in connection with criminal activities in the state are prosecuted while those found to be guilty, made to face the wrath of the law.
While condemning the killing of Dr. John Ighodaro and others who have died through similar process, the Speaker directed that the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Chris Dega should meet with him in his office on Thursday this week to discuss the way forward.
Introducing the motion earlier, the member representing Owan East Constituency, Hon. Fred Omoigberai, decried the high wave of criminal activities in the state, with particular reference to Dr. John Ighodaro who was killed last week by unknown gun men on his way back from office.
Hon. Omoigberai, who said the act was condemnable, however called on the state Police Command and other relevant security agencies in the state to be alive to their responsibility because the job of protection of lives and property fell within their jurisdiction.
While calling on the police to re-introduce the stop and search method of crime prevention and control, the lawmaker advised every law abiding citizen of the state to be security conscious.
Contributing, Hon. Kingsley Ehigiamusor (Igueben) said the University of Benin authority and the state security agency should put up combined efforts to unravel the mystery surrounding the killing.
On his part, Hon. Bright Omokhodion harped on the need to re-introduce Neighbourhood Watch for the purpose of monitoring movement of suspected members of the society within the environment.
Hon Omokhodion therefore advised the state Police Command to re-train and re-tool its personnel for the purpose of crime prevention, adding that vehicles recently donated to the police by the state government should be used for surveillance patrol while government should apply to the Federal Government to approve joint military patrol for the state as it is done in other parts of the country, particularly, Lagos State.
Meanwhile, the Edo State House of Assembly is in receipt of the compliance by the state government on the resolution of the House calling on it to release the withheld excess crude oil to local government councils in the state within 48 hours.
Reacting to the compliance order, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Zakawanu Garuba, however, enjoined council chairmen in the state to be vigilant in the spending of the excess crude. Rt. Hon. “Garuba therefore warned that the opportunity given by the fund should not be abused, stressing that the only assistance the House could give to the people that elected them was through prompt monitoring and ensuring that there was prompt release of fund for the developmental effort at the grassroots level.
Also yesterday, the House received a letter from the Head of Service on the compliance of the House resolution on the 41 teachers not included in the last teachers recruitment exercise in the state.
The re-absolved 41 teachers, whose appointments became effective on Monday, September 1, 2008 according to the Head of Service, were equally paid their two months salary arrears for the months of May and June last year.
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