By King Richard/Goodluck Ikiebe.
Dr Mike Onolememen, a former Minister of Works, has charged the Nigerian police to urgently fish out the perpetrators of the armed robbery attack that led to the death of many people in Uromi, Edo state, last Thursday.
Seven persons were reportedly shot dead as the robbers in their number blockaded the township roads and raided four banks which includes; Zenith Bank, First Bank, Unity Bank and the United Bank for Africa (UBA), in broad daylight unchallenged while carting away huge amount of money.
Speaking in Abuja on Sunday night, in the presence of Tribune editor, Onolememen, who is the Adolor of Uromi, observed that there was lack of adequate security in the town owing to the present policing nature, which he noted, centralizes its command.
He, therefore, called for a revisiting of the issuing of state policing to ensure that local authorities are able to take proactive charge of security in their jurisdictions.
According to him, precious lives were needlessly wasted because of the dastardly act fueled by lack of security.
While lamenting the situation, the former minister, said: “Several lives were lost aimlessly. I can’t continue to paint the gory pictures of dead bodies littering the streets in my mind. I’m simply shocked, traumatised and pained.
“What exactly could have been responsible for this inhumane and dastardly action, where even a pregnant woman’s life was cut short? How can we ever come to terms with this massacre?
“I wish to use this opportunity to call on the Edo state Commissioner of Police as well and the Inspector-General of Police to be swift in fishing out those behind the cowardly acts and bring them to book without delay.
“Perhaps, the situation may have been different if we have three levels of law enforcement at the local, state and federal levels all collaborating for law and order in our villages, towns and cities as obtained in most federations all over the world.
He added, “It is time for the National Assembly to re-visit the legislation on the three-tier policing for Nigeria to check the rising criminality in the country.
Onolememen expressed his condolences with the Ojuromi of Uromi, His Royal Highness Anselm Aidenojie II, who he said had to go through this horrid and painful experience, saying: “Our prayers are with the families of the victims.
