Akoko Edo Security Matters

It was reported that the Honourable Member Representing Akoko - Edo South Constituency , Hon(Barr) Donald Okogbe met with stakeholders at the Palace of the Onose of Ekpedo over the worsening security situation in Ososo/Ojah/Makeke/Ekpe/Ekpedo/Bekuma/Lampese Road. The meeting which comprised of Traditional Rulers, security agencies and hunters of Ososo, Ojah, Makeke, Ekpe, Ekpedo, Bekuma and Lampese (OOMEEBL) discussed extensively on finding a lasting solution to the menace affecting the Local Government. Akoko-Edo Local Government has been under siege by kidnappers and bandits, which has resulted in loss of lives and abduction of indigenes, some of the victims are still in captivity. It was reported that the meeting resolved as follows: a. Security should be decentralized and localized for effective coordination, implementation of actionable points, monitoring and efficiency b. Establish OOMEEBL Development Initiative to be funded by the sons and daughters of these communities including Development Associations of OOMEEBL Communities and relevant donor agencies that share in the vision and dream of this initiative c. Establish a Board of Trustees with people of impeccable integrity and background in Security as Managers of the Security Trust Fund from OOMEEBL Communities d. Form a - 30 man Special Taskforce comprising of Vigilantes and hunters from the already existing ones from OOMEEBL Communities. The crack team will be drawn from Edo State Vigilante Security Network (ESSVN) _ Ososo Zone , Okpameri Vigilante Central Command and Oduma Protection Squad e. A high powered delegation comprising of traditional rulers, leaders of thought and critical stakeholders of OOMEEBL will be dispatched to Benin to register a formal complaint to Edo State Government and all the Security Chiefs in Edo State. Hon. Donald Okogbe is expected to facilitate this courtesy visit within the week f. Appeal to the Edo State Commissioner of Police and 195 Battalion, Agenebode to direct their men in this zones to relocate from their current locations which are inside the towns to around Bekuma Bridge and the bend between Ekpe and Makeke on your way to Ososo as soon as possible to stem the current tide of insecurity around those axis while the current army check point opposite Ekpese College, Lampese should be relocated to Ekeh - the boundary between Lampese/Magongo as border communities to complement the Ogori/Magongo Police Division and the army check point on that stretch of road on the Kogi State hemisphere g. The Hon. Member, Donald Okogbe pledged to contribute Two Million Naira Annually to the Funds with additional 500,000 as takeoff grant to be paid within 3 days from date of Meeting h. The group has assured the OOMEEBL Communities to go about their normal business activities peacefully as Hon (Barr) Donald Okogbe is working out the details of immediate deployment of men to cover the full stretch of the road from Lampese to Ososo with ESSVN and AESN Coordinators to complement what the Akoko-Edo local government Chairman, Akoko-Edo Forum (AEF) and other groups are already doing on that road.