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 also 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. 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 lawmakers also called on the state government to, as a matter of urgency, begin the implementation the neighbourhood watch agency law to strengthen security in the coastal communities and that all boats plying Lagos waterways should be registered and numbered for easy identification and control.
This was part of the resolution of the House at plenary on Monday, while reacting to a motion moved by Hon. Segun Olulade under matter of urgent public importance about the two kidnap incidents in his community.
The lawmaker 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 kidnapped as well as the kidnap of a 70 year old retired banker and three of his staff at Molajoye also in Epe.
Olulade said, “We are endangered in Epe”, urging that the state security trust fund law should 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 is only one police station in the 68 communities making up his constituency.
He, however, commended the Deputy Governor of the State, Hon. Idiat Adebule and state commissioner of police for prompt response immediately they were informed about the incident.
Olulade’s counterpart from Epe constituency 1, 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 as a result of military bombardment are moving to Epe. Tobun also called for the upgrading of Epe police station to an Area Command.
While a PDP member in the House, Hon. Jude Idimogun advised that the payment of ransom to kidnappers should be stopped as it is encouraging kidnappers in their criminal activities, he 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 “as there seems to be no necessary measures put in place to stop kidnappers; we seem to be afraid to do what is necessary. We must do something”, he said.
