By Towncriernews
The House of Representatives has called for the Federal Government’s intervention as crime and insecurity continue to worsen in Edo State, threatening lives, businesses, and socio-economic activities in the State.
In the past few weeks, the State is said to have become a safe haven for kidnappings and violent attacks, with at least 34 people brutally killed, including Batemue Philip Ebo, Christopher Bello, and Victor Ogedengbe, whose lives were tragically cut short by militant groups and killer herdsmen. Several others have sustained injuries, and properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed.
Raising a motion of urgent public importance on the need to curb the rising cases of killings in the State, the member representing Esan West, Esan Central, and Igueben Federal Constituency, Marcus Onobun, noted that while the bloodbath continues unabated, the Edo State Government led by Senator Monday Okpebholo, appears overwhelmed by the frequent killings and rising insecurity.
During a plenary session presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the lawmaker decried that the killings and violent attacks have created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity, affecting the socio-economic well-being of the people.
Citing Section 14(2b) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government, he emphasized Edo State’s significance as the heartbeat of the nation, a home to diverse ethnic groups engaging in various socio-economic activities.
Onobun said, “I rise to move for a matter of urgent public importance on the need to curb the rate of incessant killings in Edo State, aware that Section 14 (2B) of the 1999 Constitution precisely provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.
“Note that Edo State is the heartbeat of the nation and home to diverse ethnic nationalities from different parts of the country who settle, work, school, and engage in various socio-economic activities within the State.”
However, he expressed deep concern that the heartbeat of the nation is losing its pulse due to dire security challenges.
He continued: “According to a report published in the Leadership Newspaper online on 26th February 2025, over 32 people have lost their lives in the State due to the activities of marauders popularly referred to as killer herdsmen.
“Note that the report alleged that two indigenous individuals in Okpekpe community in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, were gruesomely murdered on Monday, 24th February 2025, by suspected killer herdsmen.
“Similarly, the report alleged that no fewer than 28 persons were left dead in a violent clash between cocoa farmers and militants in Ovia South West LGA in Edo State. Also, the head of a vigilante group in Owan West local council was murdered in cold blood, and a child was also killed in Esan Central Local Government Area.”
The lawmaker further noted, “Worried that these series of bloodbaths in Edo have created an atmosphere of fear among the people of the state, affecting their socio-economic lives and disturbed that the government of Edo State seems to be overwhelmed by the frequency of these killings, hence the need for the Federal Government to lend a helping hand to the state to curb this ugly menace.”
He therefore charged that the House resolves to urge the Inspector-General of Police to deploy additional security personnel and intensify intelligence gathering and surveillance operations to identify and neutralize criminal flashpoints within the state.