Kogi Assembly urges Govt to beef up security around tertiary institutions

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja

KOGI State House of Assembly has called on Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to beef up security around all the Tertiary Educational Institutions in the state to curtail further abduction of students from campuses by hoodlums.

The call was contained in a resolution of the House following adoption of a Motion Of Urgent Public Importance moved by Hon. Asema Baba Haruna (APC-Adavi) at plenary in Lokoja

Haruna who is also the Chief Whip of the House, while presenting the motion condemned the recent abduction of 24 students from the state-owned Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara.

The legislator sympathized with families of the kidnapped students on the sad incident saying, “It is high time we beefed up security around our schools to avert a repetition of what happened in Osara.

“The government should as a matter of urgency construct perimeter fencing in all our Schools to stop this hoodlums from kidnapping our Students.

“The Governor should also motivate our security agencies for their good work in combating insecurities in our dare State.” he urged.

Supporting the motion, Hon. Idowu Ibikunle (ADC-Yagba-West) who is also the Minority Leader of the House said though about 20 out of the 24 kidnapped students had been rescued, the condition tion of the rest could only be imagined.

He hinted that a business tycoon recently Kidnapped in his constituency had not been released.

“We are appealing to the Kogi state Government to make a stiffer law against kidnapping. By doing this, whoever that is caught in kidnapping will dance to the music”

Also supporting the motion, many of the legislators were unanimous in their call on security agencies to change their surveillance and operational strategies in tackling insecurity in Kogi State.

In his ruling, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf (APC-Lokoja II) said Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo had shown much commitment and seriousness in tackling insecurity and making the state one of the safest in the Country.

“We want all the kidnappers to be apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law. Kogi State can never be a breeding place for this criminal elements who are enemies of the State”, he added.

The speaker also urged the State Government to support the creation of State Police in a bid to address the spate of insecurity in the Country.

The motion was adopted by overwhelming voice votes in its favour. (Ends)