Dear Mr. President,
INSECURITY IN EDO STATE: SAVE OUR SOUL URGENTLY
Insecurity of lives and neglect of the people to their fate have become a daily nightmare for Edo people as we write to you this letter.
The people of Edo state are in dire despair and anguish following the worsening spate of insecurity which has overwhelmed the people and its security authorities, making the state one of the most unsafe states in the South-South geopolitical zone and the nation at large.
Among innumerable heinous crimes on the daily menu of Edo people are gruesome murders, bizarre inter-cult bloodbath, mysterious killing of citizens by gunmen, killings and rape of farmers by herdsmen, all of who get away with their dastardly acts.
Kidnappers are on the loose. With numbing regularity, victims suffer harrowing torture and pay huge mind-bending ransom demands before they are let off.
Many Edo citizens can no longer move freely from their homes, and at home are under apprehension.
We have experienced serious and incessant armed robbery attacks both in the night and day time, cult groups have taken over most streets in Benin City and environs resulting to clashes that have led to killing of innocent residents, Fulani militia has taken over our forests, where they kill our farmers, rape our women and girls, and burn their houses unchallenged.
As we put this letter across to you there is unimaginable terror being unleashed by these criminal elements on daily basis on law abiding citizens in the State, and families are in pain and panic because of these marauding ‘beasts’, which everybody in the State is a direct and indirect victims of the harrowing menace and malaise they have put the people.
We see no respite in sight as government do not talk to the people nor listen to cry of the people. The people of Edo State are undergoing psychological trauma and torment because they are left to their fate.
We are in fact, dissatisfied with the security service rendered by the Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Security Service, DSS, Nigeria Security and Service Defense Corps, NSCDC, and others in Edo State because these criminal elements have succeeded in caging many people in their houses and not being able to carry out their legitimate businesses despite the presence of these government security agencies.
We are concerned about this pathetic situation as Edo people never had peace since this insecurity situation started. Edo has never had experienced this level and trend of unabated insecurity situation ever since she became a State in Nigeria.
How long are we going to suffer neglect by those paid with our taxpayers’ money and left at the mercy of these bandits who are heartless and inflicting pain in our people on daily basis?
We deemed it fit to bring to your attention about these ugly trends that have enveloped our State and put us under siege, and as a result our women are forcefully made widows, our men made widowers, our children made orphans and many now are disables.
We call on you sir, to look urgently into the growing insecurity situation in Edo State before it becomes too late.
We know you are fully aware about the terrible situation our people in Edo State find themselves. We therefore implore you to act promptly to Save Our Soul (SOS).
However, we demand this should be done shortly to improved security of lives and property and sustained in Edo State, and those behind these criminal activities are caught and punished according to law.
But if there is no improvement in the security situation we will embark on a grand protest to register our grievances peacefully to let the whole world know that anarchy has taken over Edo State.
We anticipate your positive response to our letter to do the needful.
Yours Faithfully,
Chief Patrick Osagie Eholor
President and Founder, One Love Foundation, OLF.
