Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
A group, Network of Civil Society Organisations of Nigeria (NOCSON), has lamented the high rate of cult killings in Edo State, saying that the lifting of the ban on the Edo State Security Network (ESSN), will help arrest the situation in the state.
President of the group, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbidi expressed his displeasures in a statement signed and made available to journalists in Benin.
He said the recent killings in the state has called for a serious concern and that proactive steps must be taken to nip the terrible trend in the bud.
“The Network of Civil Society Organisations of Nigeria has recently frowned at the Killings in Edo State in which an estimated number of 10 persons have been confirmed dead- four persons recorded at Upper Sokponba, while others are scattered in various parts of Benin Metropolis, with some other victims sustaining various degree of injuries”, Ogbidi said.
Comrade Ogbidi, while blaming the spate of insecurity in the state on the ban of the Edo State Security Network (ESSN) by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Agbetokun before the state governorship election, said the only way to arrest the ugly situation is to lift the ban on the suspended group.
“The alleged cult clash, which is perceived to be between rival cult groups has been largely blamed on the porous nature of security in the state, following the needless ban on the Edo State Joint Security Network earlier trained by the police.
“The ban, which was pronounced by the Inspector General of Police Mr Kayode Egbetokun has since brought about great increase in crime to an alarming rate, especially within the locals.
“Petty crimes such as one chance, theft, breaking and entering and several attacks on women going to markets in the early hours of the morning have been on the increasing since the absence of the local vigilante.
“This decision by the IGP which has since led to the compromise of the security architecture in Edo State, is a decision which is highly condemnable, regrettable and very appalling, and must be revisited by all concerned, with the urgency it deserves to quickly forestore the deteriorating security situation in Edo State.
“You will agree with me that the vigilante have been very helpful in community policing, information gathering and sharing to the police and swift response to crime within the locals as well as taming cultist and cultism in their domain of operations as they are said to know who is who in their area; hence could easily suspect a strange fellow or movement”, Ogbidi added.
He said NOCSON also regrets to announce that till now, the Nigerian Police is yet to make any meaningful statement to revive the hope of Edo people on their safety and what they are doing to stop this menace of secret cult Killings.
He further said that the Commissioner of Police in Edo State must, as a matter of urgency, do a proper investigation into this cult clash which has led to the gruesome murder of promising youth and bring the menace to a halt immediately.
He however urged those responsible for these needless killings to have a rethink and stop the killings as no reason(s) is justifiable enough to take the life of another man.
According to him “We wish to reiterate our commitment to promoting peace, tranquillity, social cohesion, and justice as a responsible civil society organisation whose utmost interest is to make the society habitable and a better place for all”.