By Simeon OSAJIE
The Edo Civil Society Organizations (EDOCSO), on Wednesday urged federal, state and local governments to address the rising case of insecurity in the country.
EDOCSO made the recommendation during this year World Human Rights Day held at a sensitization rally in Benin on the rights of citizens.
Addressing residents of the state during a roadshow in Benin, the Coordinator General of the group, Comrade Omobude Agho, said Nigerians now live in palpable fear due to rising insecurity across the country.
Narrowing it down to Edo State, Agho urged the state governor to equip the local security networks to help stem the tides of the influx of bandits and terrorists that are trying to infiltrate the south-south region of the country where Edo State is inclusive.
“We using the World Human Rights Day as a speaking point that the level of insecurity in Nigeria is very bad. We are very scared now more than ever.
“We have heard rumours of the bandits or the terrorists already taking over our bushes and we think that the governor should wake up to his responsibility to govern and place high incentive on the vigilante, the one they call the state security network so that they can be on salaries.
“They can also be well equipped with good arms and ammunition so that they can be able to comb our bushes and our environment to scare away, because we cannot say to apprehend, to scare and chase away all these bandits and terrorists that are already traveling from the north to the southern side of Nigeria. We think the governor should wake up to his responsibility,” Agho said.
He also lamented the high level of impunity and oppression of the ordinary citizens either by the government itself or by some persons who have some political connections.
He noted that the rally became absolutely necessary to enlighten and sensitize citizens of their rights so that they can seek redress when they are being violated.
Speaking also, the Secretary General of the group, Leftist God’s Power Okunbo, said though the level of awareness of citizens’ rights is on the increase in the state, a lot still needed to be done to ensure that citizens are abreast of their rights.
He said in ensuring that the citizens are acquainted with their rights, they have been able to create centres across the 18 local government areas of the state where they are being tutored on their rights, using the Nigeria’s constitution as a guide.
Also speaking, Leftist Ehikioya Angel said the rally was just to create awareness and sensitize the citizens about their rights.
“We are out here today to sensitize the public about knowing their rights as a woman, as a man, as children, as youths. We are trying to liberate citizens from oppression”, she said.
While speaking on how the citizens can benefits, she said “they can benefit from it by coming to join us. When you come you join our study centers, we’ll teach you what you need to know.
“The rules and regulations, the law itself because the constitution that governs this country, everything is written as amended in the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria”, she said.