Ogun State House of Assembly has expressed worry over what it described as gruesome killings of law-abiding and innocent residents of the State by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, especially in the border communities under the guise of curbing smuggling of rice into the country.
Speaker of the house ,Right. Honourable. Olakunle Oluomo responding to the recent unfortunate incident in Ilaro which allegedly claimed the life of a two-year old child by Customs operative chasing smugglers, asked heads of security agents in the State to call their men to order , urging them to change their attitude and imbibe the standard rule of engagements to stop avoidable killings in the course of their operations.
Oluomo gave the charge on Thursday during resumed plenary of the house in Abeokuta after the new year recess, following complaints from a member representing Yewa North I State Constituency, Hon. Adegoke Adeyanju under Personal Explanations at the plenary .
He lamented a situation where the security agents would mount multiple check points on the roads along the nation's borders, yet they would still allow smugglers into the towns; only to start pursuing them in high density areas, shooting sporadically, recording casualties, who are mainly innocent people.
Describing the rising spate of extra-judicial killings across the State as unacceptable, Oluomo stated that it was high time the operatives were more conscious in their operations, stressing the need to be responsive and effective at securing the lives and property of the entire residents of the State.
Earlier in his presentation, Adeyanju had lamented the recent alleged killing of a two year old infant at Ilaro by the men of the Nigeria Customs, who were pursuing smugglers as well as the kidnap and gruesome murder of the 37 year-old son of Baale Afami Village, Imasai, Falana Gbenga (Aka Onile) at Imasai, after the kidnappers had demanded ransom which was being arranged by the family.
The lawmaker lamented that the security personnel were busy tracking rice to the detriment of the security of lives and property of the citizens.
In another development, the Assembly has mourned a former Head of the Interim National Government of Nigeria, Chief Ernest Shonekan, who died on January 11, 2022 in Lagos at age 85, describing him as a nationalist, whose entire lifetime reflected true service with special regards to the unity, peace, growth and development of Nigeria.
The lawmakers led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo also commiserated with the people of Ado-Odo/ Ota Local Government and the State on the demise of the Olofin of Ado- Odo, Oba ( Dr) Abdulateef Adeniran- Ojukutujoye 1, who joined his ancestors last January 7, 2022.
The lawmakers led by the Speaker observed a one-minute silence in honour of the duo, in response to the submissions of a lawmaker representing Abeokuta South I State Constituency, Hon. Yusuf Adejojo and his Ado- Odo/ Ota 2 counterpart, Hon. Musefiu Lamidi under personal explanation.
Responding, Speaker Oluomo stressed that the late Egba-born octogenarian and lawyer was a successful administrator and generalissimo in the boardroom politics as well as the Head of nation’s interim Government after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential elections.
Oluomo also assured residents of the State that the Ninth Assembly under his leadership would improve on the achievements recorded in the previous period, saying that more democratic dividends to the people were underway as all legislative mechanisms would be deployed for accelerated development in all areas of the State economy.
The Speaker then encouraged his colleague-lawmakers, management and staffers of the State Assembly to redouble their efforts by being more dedicated and committed in their respective capacities to ensure improved service delivery and sustainance of excellence in legislative arm of government.
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