Following the near-deplorable security situation in
Edo State, the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Benin branch, on Thursday called
for the declaration of state of emergency on the state of security in the
state.
The call was contained in a joint statement signed
by the association Chairman, Mr. Collins Ogiebaen, and Secretary, Mr. Pius
Oiwoh, which was made available to journalists.
The association said the call became necessary due
to the rising wave of insecurity across the state.
The statement added that no fewer than eight
lawyers and judges have been abducted across the state within the last nine
months, with the most recent being the abduction of Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme
last Wednesday.
The Bar vowed to shut down all court proceedings in
the state should the law enforcement agencies fail to secure the release of
Nwosu-Iheme.
The body gives the state government 72 hours to
secure the release of the Justice.
In the statement, the NBA, which condemned the
worsening security situation in the state, said bandits and kidnappers have laid
siege in the state, calling on the state government to as a matter of urgency,
overhaul the security architecture of the state.
According to them, "The security of lives and
property is the responsibility of government. Our judicial officers must also
be given adequate security in their homes, work place and while moving from one
place to another. Lawyers and indeed other citizens must be adequately
protected.
"You will recall that about a month ago, the
bar called off the boycott of courts in respect of cases of armed robbery and
kidnapping which was in force since April 17, 2019.
"The resolution leading to the boycott was
prompted by the rising trend of kidnap of lawyers and other indigenes of our
dear state as well as the rampant incidences of armed robbery which effect needs
a declaration of a state of emergency in our state."
Justice Nwosu-Iheme, who is the Chairman of the Edo
State Appeal Panel entertaining petitions arising from the judgement of national/state
assemblies elections, was last Wednesday morning abducted by suspected gunmen
in Benin-city.
The Justice of the Court of Appeal was kidnapped on
Benin-Agbor road on Wednesday morning while her police orderly was killed.
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