Lawmakers ask robbers to declare temporary ceasefire

By Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji

October 29, 2009 01:50AMT print email

The Ogun State House of Assembly on Wednesday appealed to armed robbers operating in the state and neighbouring ones to suspend their activities in the light of the junior World Cup going on in the country.

The Assembly reminded the robbers that any of their operations during the period of the tournament will give the country a bad name, as several foreign visitors are in the country now. Ogun is one of the states hosting teams in the competition.

The lawmakers agreed to beg the bandits during deliberations on the floor of the House, at their Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta complex. A member, Edward Ayo Odugbesan had raised an alarm that the Isheri bridge, which links Ogun with Lagos State, has become a den of bandits.

Mr. Odugbesan said there is a need for the men of the underworld to suspend their operations in the interim, because of the on-going mundial. The Ijebu-Ode International Stadium is one of the centres being used for the competition.

“I want to appeal to the men of the underworld to suspend their actions and operations in the interim because of our foreign visitors currently in the state,” he said. “Then they can resume thereafter, because there is nowhere in the world where robbers and robberies could be stopped from their work.” He then called on his colleagues to support his call on the armed bandits to soft-pedal because the situation is becoming worrisome.

“If foreigners witness the robbers’ attacks at this point, it would send a bad signal to other nations,” he said.


Police wake up

Reacting to Mr. Odugbesan’s call, the Speaker, Tunji Egbetokun, called on the police leadership to intensify efforts in ensuring that security is maintained in the state.

“I want to use the opportunity to call on the police to intensify efforts in checkmating criminals. They should please not relent in the efforts,” he said.

In a related development, the Assembly ordered the head of the Local Government Administration of Obafemi-Owode to appear before it next Wednesday for clarification on the budget and expenditure of the council. The local government official was said to have dodged previous invitations over the past three months – a development which the Assembly faulted at its session yesterday.

The lawmakers, therefore, directed the Clerk of the House, Demola Badejo, to write the official on the matter and direct him to report before it.

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Ogun state is number 3 in armed robbery and the house of assembly has no clue what to do

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Why not spend your time highlighting these positives, show some pride and uplift your people instead of opening all these meaningless threads designed to show/display your shallowness and lack of communal depth.