Edo State House of Assembly has called on the state government and security agencies to activate their various operational units and work in synergy to secure the safe release of all kidnapped victims including pupils of Gloryland International School, Igarra in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the state.
The house also urged security agencies to increase their presence in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area and possibly set up response teams there, being a local government at the border line of two other states making it highly vulnerable.
The resolution was sequel to a matter of urgent public importance moved by the member representing Akoko-Edo Two Constituency, Mr Emmanuel Agbaje.
The lawmaker who decried the state of insecurity in the local government, narrated how pupils of Gloryland International School, Igarra were kidnapped on their way from school.
He told the house that kidnapping had become rampant in the locality and narrated how a member of a family who was going to pay a ransom for the release of his family members was also kidnapped.
Mr Agbaje thereafter solicited the support of the members of the house to wade into the matter with a view to putting an end to incessant kidnapping in the area as well as rescue the kidnapped pupils whose whereabouts were still unknown as nobody had been contacted on their behalf.
Also speaking, former deputy speaker and member representing Akoko-Edo One Constituency, Right Hon. (Prince) Yekini Idaiye took time to narrate many residents of the area who had fallen victim of kidnapping in the locality.
He said that they had been trying their best to support vigilante and hunters in the fight against insecurity but their efforts were not enough.
He stated that the level of insecurity in the local government was alarming noting in dismay that it was the oldest local government in the country and most undeveloped and should not be allowed to go into extinction.
On The Deputy Speaker, Mr Roland Asoro said that it worrisome that despite the efforts of the state government in addressing insecurity in the state, the level of insecurity was still high everywhere in the state.
Reporting by Victor Adefemi, Editing by Tola Oguneye