Kehinde Fajobi
The House of Representatives has called on the Inspector General of Police, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to deploy security personnel to communities in Edo State following recent killings in Etsako East Local Government Area.
Adopting a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Billy Osawaru (APC, Edo) on Thursday, the House also urged security agencies to investigate the murders in Itsukwi, Imegba, Okpekpe, and Imiakebu communities and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Additionally, the House appealed for financial assistance to affected farmers whose farmlands were destroyed during the attacks to help them prepare for the next planting season.
Osawaru, while leading the debate, highlighted constitutional provisions that mandate the government to prioritise the security and welfare of its citizens.
He cited Section 14(b) of the 1999 Constitution, which states that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”
He also referenced Section 17(b), which recognises the sanctity of human life, and Section 33(1), which guarantees every individual’s right to life.
Detailing the attacks, Osawaru said, “On Monday, October 28, 2024, herdsmen invaded Ugbereke, a popular farmland known for its fertility, and destroyed completely the yam plantation of a youth leader in Itsukwi community, Mr. Samuel Igbeneghu.
“On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, three farmers — Umuagene Obey, Emuesugheli Obi, and Ogbitabu Imoudumhe, all from Okpekpe community — were ambushed and brutally murdered by suspected herdsmen on their way to their farms.
“On the same day, the killers proceeded to Ugbereke, where they murdered one Undyar Aondongu and left five women with various degrees of injuries after beating them.”
Osawaru warned that if the federal government failed to act, the region could face acute hunger due to food scarcity, affecting not only Etsako East but Edo State as a whole.
The House resolved to intensify pressure on security agencies to safeguard lives and property in the affected areas while ensuring that justice is served.