Kunle Adelabu
-As Hon. Aro Abiodun raises alarm
The Lagos State House of Assembly, on Monday, assured residents of Ikorodu Constituency II, especially those in Igbogbo/Bayeku and Ijede Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), that necessary stakeholders will be contacted for the purpose of stemming the kidnaping cases in their areas.
Igbe communities within the Igbogbo/Bayeku and Ijede Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), two of the three LCDAs under the Ikorodu Constituency II that is being represented by Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun (AMA), in the Lagos State House of Assembly, have been battling incessant kidnappings since November 2023, with three cases recorded, resulting in the kidnap of four people.
The Speaker, Lagos Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, ruling on a motion on matter of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Aro Moshood, assured that relevant stakeholders will be engaged to stop the unfortunate happenings.
Aro, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Public-Private Partnership, had called for the intervention of the House over spate of kidnappings in his constituency..
He detailed the unfortunate incidents that occurred in his constituency between December 8, 2023 and February 6, 2024, the last which resulted in the death of two vigilantes, while four other local security personnel were injured.
The first term lawmaker highlighted the swampy bush which spanned over 200 metres covering Ayetoro, Agunfoye, Ijede, and Eruwen, as providing cover for the criminals.
In addition, he emphasized the state of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu road to Igbe road, especially the Afa bridge area, as another major factor enabling the perpetration of criminal acts in the axis.
He called for the establishment of a committee to investigate and propose actionable solutions, engage the Ministry of Environment to clear the bush covering the swamp, deployment of security agencies to enhance surveillance and patrol, and empowerment of local security personnel to bolster community defense mechanisms, as ways of rooting out kidnappings and other criminal acts in the area.
In their contributions, other honorable members expressed solidarity and underscored the urgent need for intervention.
Some of the state lawmakers called on the National Assembly, for the creation of state police to strengthening the Neighborhood Safety Corps, with increased financial support, strengthening of the Security Trust Fund to bolster the capabilities of the Lagos State Police, and utilisation of sports as a means to engage youths and divert their attention from criminal activities.
