IGP BAN ON ESSN: The Torture, After Securing Edo Election With 35,000 Operatives.
IGP Kayode Egbetokun
Eben Enasco Reporting.
A dead body is now found at nearly every corner within Benin metropolis and that looks quite clear that the victims did not commit suicide by jumping off from one of the building floors, because Nigeria inflation is at a heightened momentum.
The City of Benin in the last couple of weeks has been grappling with a surge in violence, as dead bodies are found almost daily, victims of a ruthless cult war and communal clashes.
This escalation began after the September 21 gubernatorial election, where 35,000 police operatives were deployed to ensure security of lives and INEC materials.
IGP Egbetokun 35,000 Police men spell ended with a strong finish during the Gubernatorial election in the state but his time in Benin remains under a cloud of uncertainty over the now resumed hostility.
However, if the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has deployed similar numbers or close to, maybe he would have addressed the current crisis.
Corrupted Confraternity called Cultism, is the main reason for the killing spree in Benin metropolis.
A detective comes, goes to the first floor and walks in the room facing the direction in which the dead bodies were found.
When he opens the closed window of that room and flips a coin towards the floor, the outcome of the coin was that it was not a suicide committed by the victims but the choice to fiercely gang murder any one in sight who is a rivalry cult group.
Cultism is the primary driver of the killing spree, with multiple groups vying for dominance.
Additionally, land speculation and grabbing have led to further loss of life.
Visiting police stations in Benin and its environs reveals that cultism and land grabbing crises are the most pressing concerns investigated across all sections, from Police Zonal, Area Commands to Divisional Operational offices across the state the story is the same.
Cultism and land grabbing or speculation is seen by many as a toxic mix that is spilling the outcomes with innocent people feeling the heat.
Critics argue that politicians exploit these cult groups to achieve their objectives, particularly during crucial state activities.
Afterwards, these elements are left with sophisticated guns and life threatening weapons to harass people in the streets
Recall that almost the entire security architecture in the Country was moved to Edo State during the September 21, gubernatorial election after the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun announced that over 35,000 Police Operatives will secure the voting system.
Relevant stakeholders have remained silent and the jury is staring at the door as the lawyer and the respondents are hoping that a culprit arrested by the Police would be sent for onward prosecution, but it’s a story for the gods.
The situation has reached a boiling point, yet we have not heard the IGP
Deployed the same numbers of its operatives to police a state where humans are now killed like flies.
Recall that no fewer than 30 people including a journalist with the Independent Radio and Television Station and vigilante heads were killed during a similar bloody cult war between members of the Black Axe and their rival Supreme Eiye Confraternities that characterized the last yuletide season in Benin.
Since the renewed hostility, nothing less than 50 youths and fathers have been killed in the cult related activities.
Unfortunately, the recent violence in Benin City, resulting in over 50 youth deaths in the last few days, hasn’t received the condemnation it deserves.
This is alarming, and we should take a moment to reflect on the severity of the situation.
Besides Cultism, there’s also an issue of land speculations and grabbing where many have lost their lives.
Many of our traditional rulers who are parading the streets looking for personal gains have all unusually remained silent with the killings escalating.
I know what the porous and insincere man would say is that, nobody asks them to join any cult.
But they forget that during important activities in the state, most politicians resort to using these groups to achieve their aims.
They are like a riddle which says, “I am not alive, but I grow; I don’t have lungs, but I need air; I don’t have a mouth, but water kills me”.
While in Benin for a stakeholders engagement, IGP Egbetokun quickly announced the prohibition of the Operations of Edo State Security Network, ESSN, even though he has no constitutional powers to suspend their operations indefinitely.
This culminated in mixed reactions as some segment of citizens who targeted the government with the impression that the group was established to witch hunt political opponents celebrated the decision while others were convinced of the multiple consequences of the IGP’s action.
Since the pronouncement, the job of securing lives and property in Edo State has become overwhelming for the regular police operatives.
It is glaring that they need to be complimented in the fight against crime and criminality.
The local police understands the terrain by extension knows where and who to call and act upon.
IGP Egbetokun has more national security issues like kidnappings, terrorist attacks, herders and the age-long Insurgence, to contend with not coming to stop an institution backed by the law.
As Edo State prepares for the inauguration of its new government on November 12, 2024, it’s imperative that those responsible for suspending the state’s security operatives reverse this decision without delay.
This move is perceived as politically motivated and must be addressed to ensure public safety.
The recent violence in Edo State, resulting in the loss of many young lives, is alarming. It’s concerning that the future defenders of the state’s territories are being targeted, leading to devastating consequences.
The state must prioritize the protection of its youth, who are crucial to its future development and defense.
By taking these steps, Edo State can mitigate the consequences of violence and ensure a safer, more prosperous future for its citizens.