Lokpanta Cattle Market now den of bandits, kidnappers, Abia lawmaker raises alarm

[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]

Member representing Umunneochi Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Barr. Okey Igwe, has raised the alarm that his constituency may be overrun by criminal elements who have converted the Lokpanta Cattle Market located within the district to their den.

In a Matter of Urgent Public Importance he brought before the House during plenary Wednesday, Igwe said that “kidnappers, bandits and armed robbers have besieged my Constituency,” stressing that the matter has got so bad that his constituents now live in fear.

The legislator also said that the perpetrators of the nefarious activities in Umunneochi now use Lokpanta cattle market as their den from where they unleash terror on innocent citizens.

Igwe therefore prayed the House to mandate the State’s Commissioner of Police and the Army Commander in the area to up their game and ensure that lives and property in the area were protected.

He requested the House to also mandate security heads in the area to urgently restore the security check points at vital locations along the expressway in the area and to increase the personnel in their patrol teams.

His other prayers included that the House should invite the Executive Chairman of Umunneochi Local Government Area to come and explain to the House his challenges which have led to the dwindling security situation at Lokpanta Cattle Market in particular and the Local, Government in general; and that the House should mandate the Ministry of Homeland Security to liaise with the local vigilante groups in the area to help other security agencies deployed to the area.

He requested the House to intervene and help bring the ugly situation under control.

After contributions from Rt. Hon. Chikwendu Kalu, Hon.Thomas A.C. Nkoro, Hon. Paul Taribo, Hon. Mike Ukoha, Hon. Mandela Obasi and Hon. Jerry Uzosike, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Engr. Chinedum Orji, said the safety of lives and property of Abians was paramount to the House and cannot be equated with any other thing.

He said the general security situation in the country was worrisome and as such, every government agency in the State must rise to the occasion and make sure the State was kept free from hoodlums and invaders.

In granting the prayers of Hon. Igwe, the Speaker, mandated the Clerk of the House to, as a matter of urgency, send a letter of invitation to the Executive Chairman of Umunneochi Local Government Area, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Homeland Security and the Chairman of Lokpanta Cattle Market for an interaction with the lawmakers on finding lasting solutions to criminal activities in the constituency.

The Speaker also implored the security heads in the area to restore the security check points at strategic locations in the vicinity in order to curb the activities of criminals in the area.

Meanwhile, a Bill for a Law to Amend the Abia State Debt Management Office Law known as H.A.B. 45 : The Abia State Debt Management Office Bill 2021 passed First reading Wednesday.

The bill is sponsored by the Majority Leader, Hon. Solomon Akpulonu, member representing Obingwa East State Constituency.

After considerations and with a motion moved by Akpulonu, which was seconded by the Minority Leader, the bill passed the First Reading.

Other items on the Order Paper were deferred for consideration on another Legislative Day.

ADJOURNMENT.

Hon Solomon Akpulonu, Majority Leader of the House, moved that plenary be adjourned to another Legislative Day.

The Minority Leader, Hon Chijioke Chukwu seconded the motion.

Plenary was therefore adjourned to Monday, 27th September, 2021.