By Ben Ogbemudia
The Deputy House Leader and member representing Akoko Edo in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Peter Akpatason, has condemned the state of killings and kidnappings recorded in his constituency in recent months and challenged the state government to live up to its mandate of protecting the lives and well-being of the people.
Hon. Akpatason voiced his frustration in a Friday statement lamenting the latest kidnap of a local trade-medical practitioner, Chief Friday Arepa, and the attack on a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) attached to Igarra Police Station in Akoko Edo Local Government.
Condemning both incidents, he challenged the state government to do more in protecting the people of Akoko Edo, instead of its “unfortunate trend of only evoking their names and facilitating arsonist visits in service of selfish political goals.”
He said: “The state of insecurity in Akoko Edo has taken new, troubling dimensions. In rapid succession, a well-known trade-medical practitioner was abducted and the Divisional Police Officer of Igarra Police Station suffered attacks that left him hospitalized.”
“The reports of the senseless attack on the DPO suggested that the criminal group responsible for it waylaid and targeted the brave officer. When things degenerate to a point where senior members of our Police Force now fear for their own lives, it becomes clear that an extraordinary intervention is required.”
“Unfortunately, the state government is sitting on its hands on this issue, doing little to nothing to complement our consistent but limited efforts considering the resources available to us.
The justification for raking in millions annually as security votes is to bolster internal security and protect the lives and wellbeing of the people.
The Edo State Government must live up to this responsibility and reverse its unfortunate trend of evoking Akoko Edo only when they want to engage in their sadist and destructive politics.”
“We will continue to do more to support local vigilante groups and comfort our people. But we have had enough of painful condolences and tortuous wait and agony each time a loved one is murdered or abducted by criminal groups. This is not what we want to do every week. The killing and kidnapping of our people must come to an end. It must stop.”
“We will intensify our agitations on the floor of the House and follow up closely with the Inspector General of Police on what is possible to protect our people and support the brave officers who have now targeted themselves, as the attack on the DPO shows,” he said.
