Kidnapping: Lagos Assembly seek joint security operations in coastal communities
Following two kidnapping incidents within a week at Epe, a coastal town in the state, the Lagos state House of Assembly has called on the federal government to provide joint security operation in coastal communities in the state to forestall incessant kidnapping being perpetrated by criminals using the waterways.
The House further called on the state Commissioner of Police to ensure the provision and upgrading of police post in the coastal areas as well as a police command in Epe while it also called on the Ministry of Education to ensure the enforcement of the resolution of the House in fencing round primary and secondary schools in the state.
The House also called on the state government to, as a matter of urgency begin the implementation of the neighbourhood watch agency law to strengthen security in the coastal communities while all boats plying Lagos waterways should be registered and numbered for easy identification and regulations.
All these formed the resolution of the House at plenary on Monday during debate on the motion moved by Hon. Segun Olulade representing Epe constituency 01 under matter of urgent public importance about the two kidnap incidents in his community.
Olulade had informed his colleagues about two kidnap incidents within one week in his constituency at Epe where the principal, four students and house master of a school, Igbonla Model college, Epe were kidnap as well as the kidnap of a 70 years old retired banker and three of his staff at Molajoye also in Epe.
“We are endangered in Epe”, Olulade stated while urging the state security trust fund law to be looked into and strengthened to provide security on the waterways through the provision of gun boats and marine police station, he also called for a full-fledged police station in Ketu and Ejirin as there was only one police station in the entire 68 communities making up his constituency.
The lawmaker however, commended the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr. Idiat Adebule and the state commissioner of police for prompt response as soon as they were informed about the incident.
Olulade’s counterpart from Epe constituency 2, Hon. Abiodun Tobun urged the government to beef surveillance along the coastal line and that focus should be more on those areas as most criminals who were dislodged from Ikorodu during the military bombardment have moved to Epe. Tobun also called for the upgrading of Epe police station to an area command.
A PDP member in the House Hon. Jude Idimogu urged residents to desist from paying ransom to kidnappers as this encouraged them in their criminal activities, the lawmaker also called for the empowerment of neighbourhood watchers.
Speaker Mudashiru Obasa stressed on the need for the government to start implementation of all the laws and resolutions passed by the Assembly. “It appears there is no necessary measure
