Whilst the essence of government is the security and welfare of the people, our personal security should be our individual priority.
SECURING EDO STATE.
I have watched with amazement the blame game going on in Edo State with regard to the insecurity situation in the State.
Edo State like the Nigerian situation has been bedeviled with insecurity for a long time now, so when I hear past governments officials boast about how improved insecurity was in their time, I ask myself if they are talking about the same state or our memories are failing us.
Anyway I no blame anybody, because we de play politics with everything in Nigeria?
Abeg follow me down memory lane a little bit so we can collectively refresh our memories.
While I don’t want to start from the Lawrence Aninih and Monday Osunbo days because our gen z no go understand and because of time, let me cast our minds back to November 2012, in what can best be described as reminiscent of the Lawrence Aninih armed robbery days in then Bendel State, when heavily armed men attacked Auchi town in Edo State, razed down a police station, killing 3 soldiers and 15 civilians, and went ahead to rob three banks, uprooting their security doors. Na for this same Edo e for happen no oo no be abroad.
Before the incident, armed robbers had previously robbed two banks in the same Auchi in April of the same year.
If you say it was an isolated incident, at least you remember the cult related activities and incessant robberies in some parts of the Benin metropolis that led to the formation of rainbow coalition to bring lasting peace to the State. Ahhh I even remember the killing of Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, the then Principal Secretary to the then Governor of the State Comrade Adams Oshiomole in May 2012
Remember also in August 2013 Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN was kidnapped along the Benin Auchi Road where about four mobile policemen were killed. And the road was a no go area as it was a den of kidnappers as a Local Government Chairman Afegbua was kidnapped there, including my late friend Wahala Aliagbor.
The 2020 State Governorship election saw thuggery and violence wear different colours as political thugs competed for the most violent amongst themselves with some allegedly wearing State badges, including the ones that attacked Oshiomole at the airport in February 2020 oh maybe that one no be insecurity.
In March, 2022 armed robbers shake Uromi to it foundation as seven persons, including two police officers, were killed following an armed robbery attack by gunmen on four banks and a police station in the town. All these na still Edo e for happen oo, no be Belgium. Abi no be insecurity?
The State become so notorious for robbery and kidnapping to the extent that even the State PDP Chairman was kidnapped sometime in 2024 and fear no let some of us de enter Benin again at that time because I know how many of my friends or friends relatives dem kidnap and contribution of random come be like osusu.
If we enter the matter of inter-cult killings we no got comot here as it almost became a daily occurrence in the State, abi no be insecurity be that too. Even fraud was elevated to a decent and respectable means of livelihood and enviable status in the society. You go hear say na Yahoo boys buy that house or donate that transformer oo.
What about the 2024 State Governorship election? Was political thuggery and violence not elevated to state act to the extent that a policeman was killed in the process and even the former Governor in one of the campaigns, like Obasanjo told us that the election was a do or die affair. If people forget I no forget oo.
Things became so bad that thugs openly boast of their political affiliation, strength and capacity to render the State ungovernable as certain areas were no-go areas in Benin at night. Abi no incidence no be insecurity?
Anyway just to mention just a few as the list is endless. So when I hear people that contributed to the insecurity in the state boast about making Edo a safe heaven in their time, I know it’s all political bubuyaya or Kwale something talking and nothing more.
Every government should know that Edo State being a strategic gateway state linking the north and southern part of Nigeria and with militancy in the Niger-Delta and banditry in the north, the State will also certainly face consequential territorial insecurity as a fallout of the Nigerian security vacuum. So the government like Boys Scouts must be prepared at all times.
So I will therefore advocate, while I appreciate the efforts of previous governments at solving the menace, including the Arase command and control center built by the Obaseki led administration.
I also want to salute the efforts of the current government of Sen. Monday Okpehole, considering the short time he has been in office and the proactive steps in amending the State Anti Kidnapping Law, the purchase of brand new vehicles, and equipment for all security forces in the State and the demolition of hideouts used by kidnappers, it’s a big step forward.
Being a gateway state to the North and South of the country the federal government should as a matter of urgency set up a tactical command base comprising of the Army, Airforce Navy and Police with modern technological equipment and expertise to respond to insecurity challenges in the state especially the menace of kidnapping, banditry and invasion of herdsmen who are fleeing the military onslaught from the north and running down south.
The State Government should reorganize and rejig the local vigilante forces and ensure that their jurisdiction does not extend beyond their localities.
Also, with the State Government increase in the allocation to the State owned universities and tertiary institutions, technology, job creation and entrepreneurial development should be enhanced as studies in the universities, instead of just teaching students how to look for jobs, than creating jobs. While government at all strata should cut down on cost and plough the savings from subsidy removal into critical sectors like mechanized farming and agricultural development.
Lastly, the federal government should dredge the River Niger and River Benue to deepen the river bed as a way of keeping it from overflowing its banks to help save crops and also keep farmers in communities safe.
If these few areas are implemented we would have collectively taken a big leap in securing Edo State and possibly extend the template to protecting Nigeria instead of this selfish blame game that only benefits a few.
As always, I don talk my own, please share your thoughts with us on all our social media platforms showing on your screen. Feel free to share and like.
He who does not know and does not know that he does not know is a fool and will die in their ignorance.
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