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The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on Friday raised the alarm over the alleged stockpiling of arms and ammunition by some persons, under the guise of politics, to cause breach of the peace in the state.
This is just as the leadership of the All Progressives Congress in the Oredo Local Government Area of the state has suspended the Edo State House of Assembly member-elect representing Oredo West, Christopher Okaeben, for alleged misconduct.
Okaeben, who is among the members-elect who have yet to be inaugurated due to the crisis in the House of Assembly, was said to have been suspended on Friday by a five-man panel and in line with Article 21 of the party’s constitution.
Obaseki said that the security apparatus in the state “will stop at nothing” to bring to justice anybody who foments trouble and would rely on the law to prosecute anybody found wanting.
The security meeting, which was presided over by the governor, was attended by the Commander, 4th Brigade of the Nigerian Army, the Commissioner of Police and heads of the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Customs Service, and Nigeria Prisons Service. It was convened to review the security situation in the state.
Obaseki, who is said to be at loggerheads with the National Chairman of the APC, who is his predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole, said that the security council was aware that some persons were importing arms to cause mayhem in the state.
“While stating that they (security council) are aware that some unscrupulous persons, under the guise of politics, are importing arms and ammunition to cause mayhem, they warned that the state security council is aware of their activities, stressing that the state’s shield stands guard and its sword stands ready to bring to justice anyone found engaging in such criminal activity,” a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, read in part.
It added that no one found wanting would be spared “no matter how highly placed these persons are” and would not only be arrested but also “prosecuted and jailed”.
The statement quoted the council as advising parents to keep a close watch on their children and wards and prevent them from being recruited by the individuals in the name of politics to disrupt public peace.
It added, “Individuals or groups found breaching the peace or molesting anybody will be made to face the wrath of the law, no matter who their parents and guardians might be.
“Security agencies have also been directed to commence a search for arms and ammunition being stockpiled by these individuals for the purpose of causing trouble and breaching the peace.”
