Felix Otaru, Lokoja
Kogi State House of Assembly has called on Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to beef up security across all tertiary institutions to avert the menace of kidnapping.
The lawmakers made the call during house plenary in Lokoja.
In a motion of urgent public importance by member representing Adavi State constituency who doubles as the Chief whip, Hon. Asema Baba Haruna while condemning the kidnap of scores of students at the Confluence University of Science and Technology, (CUSTECH) Osara sympathized with the families of the kidnapped victims over the sad incident.
The Lawmaker who noted that the abducted students were preparing for their first semester examination before they were abducted by gunmen, lauded the quick response of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and all security agencies for the release of more Kidnapped students of the university.
“It is high time we beef up security around our schools to avert a repetition of what happened in Osara. The government should as a matter of urgency construct perimeter fence across all our schools to stop this hoodlums from kidnapping our students. The Governor should also motivate our security agennts for their good work in combating insecurity in our dear State.” he stated.
Seconding the motion, Minority Leader of the House and member representing Yagba West State Constituency, Hon. Idowu Ibikunle decried the numbers of students who are still in captivity.
He hinted his colleagues that a business tycoon was recently kidnapped in his constituency and had not regained his freedom as at the time of filing this report.
His words: “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”
On their parts, the lawmakers representing Dekina/Biraidu, Hon. Ochidi Usman Shehu, Lokoja One, Hon. Bin-Ebaiya Shehu Tijani , Okene Two, Hon. Yusuf Zakari Eneve, Ajaokuta, Jibril Abu while commending Kogi State Government and the security agencies all argued that security agencies should change and improve their strategies in tackling insecurity in Kogi State.
They, however, revealed that seven more students aside the fourteen released earlier have also been rescued from their abductors.
In his ruling, Speaker of the House and member representing Lokoja Two, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf noted that Governor of Kogi State has shown seriousness to make the State 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 urged the State Government to support the creation of State Police in a bid to address the spate of insecurity.
He added that CCTV cameras be installed across all tertiary institutions and monitored by heads of the such institutions as well as security agencies.
