———- ASKS SECURITY AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO TAKE DRASTIC STEPS TO STOP REOCCURRENCE
Worried by the continued vandalization of street lights, solar lamps and other public utilities in the State by suspected criminal elements, the Imo State House Of Assembly has asked the relevant security and State Government Agencies to take drastic steps to put an immediate stop to it.
This was as a result of a Motion moved, during Plenary on Wednesday 16/10/2024, by the Member Representing Onuimo State Constituency, Hon Chief James Uba Esile.
Moving the Motion, Hon James Uba Esile bemoaned the situation whereby government would spend fortune to provide infrastructure for the people of the State, as part of the dividends of democracy, only for such infrastructure, such as street lights, solar lamps and other public utilities etc, to be vandalized and carted away by criminal elements.
While describing the act as disheartening, Hon Esile, who is also the House Committee Chairman on Culture, Tourism And Creative Arts, stated that the continued vandalization, if not checked, would bring bad image to the state, cause great economic loss to the State Government and threat of insecurity in the State, as can be seen with the recent trend of armed robbery, kidnapping, car snatching and ugly activities of scrap metal scavenges.
In his words, the only voice from Onuimo State Constituency said, *”We are witnesses to the efforts being made by the 3-R Administration in the State led by Governor Hope Uzodimma in the provision of infrastructure, especially our roads, majority of which were constructed alongside street lights with solar lamps. This serves not only to beautify these roads but serves in providing light for vehicles at night, as well as providing security for residents in the State, both in urban and rural areas of the State”.*
*”Unfortunately, these Street lights and Solar lamps are systematically being pulled down and vandalized by criminals elements. These facilities costs a lot of money to install and it has significantly helped in checking crime”.*
*”The pulling down and vandalizing of these Solar lamps around New Owerri, Amakohia and in many communities across the State should be seen as economic sabotage and threat to Security and progress of the State. Also, due to the vandalization of street lights and solar lamps, some communities in the State have been plunged into darkness at night, thereby making it easy for hoodlums to invade such communities, to perpetrate and carry out criminal acts”.*
*”This must stop. There is therefore, the need to ensure these acts do not happen again. This is where collaboration among security agencies, community vigilantes and even individuals come into play. The State Government through the Ministry of Homeland Security and Vigilante Affairs should organize this and ensure this collaboration, so as to checkmate and stop this growing trend, fish out the perpetrators, prosecute and have them seriously punished, so as to serve as deterrent to others”.*
Calling on his Honourable colleagues to support the all important Motion, Hon Esile, who is popularly known as Fresh Air, said it would *”save costs, and most importantly, save life and property of Imo citizens”.*
The Motion which received popular endorsement by Honourable Members, was seconded by Hon Engr Bernard Ozoemelam, Member Representing Ehime Mbano State Constituency and co-sponsored by 15 lawmakers as follows :
1. Rt Hon. Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu.
2. Hon. Kanayo Onyemaechi.
3. Hon. Chigozie Nwaneri.
4. Hon. Francis Uche Agabige.
5. Hon. Sam Ikechukwu Osuji.
6. Hon. Innocent Ikechukwu Ikpamezie.
7. Hon. Johnleoba Iheoha.
8. Hon Ikenna Martins Ihezuo.
9. Hon Princewill Ugochukwu Amuchie.
10. Hon Bernard Ozoemelam.
11. Hon Obinna Egu.
12. Hon Kingsley Emeka Ozurumba.
13. Hon. Gilbert Chiedozie Nwosu.
14. Hon Clinton Amadi.
15. Hon Francis Uzoma Osuoha.
Supporting the Motion, the following Honourable Members made useful contributions :
1. Hon. Clinton Amadi (Owerri Municipal).
2. Hon. Okey Udeze (Ideato North).
3. Hon. Kanayo Onyemaechi (Owerri West).
4. Hon. Engr Innocent Ikechukwu Ikpamezie (Mbaitoli).
5. Hon. Johnleoba Iheoha (Ikeduru).
6. Hon. Sam Ikechukwu Osuji (Isiala Mbano).
7. Hon. Barrister Kingsley Emeka Ozurumba (Isu).
8. Hon. Barrister Ikenna Martins Ihezuo (Orlu).
In their respective submissions, they commended Hon James Uba Esile for the Motion, which they described as timely and very sensitive. They described as disheartening the vandalization of Government Property by some people, especially the people called *”Iron Condemn People”,* adding that they operate both during the day and at night, and invade schools, to pull out iron metals from school buildings. Calling for measure to check the trending criminality, the Honourable Members submitted that citizens of the State have right, under the law, to arrest hoodlums seen vandalizing government properties and other infrastructures provided for the people, and thereafter hand them over to law enforcement agencies, for necessary actions against them.
Satisfied with contributions from Honourable Members, the Speaker, who was ably represented by the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Sir Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu, put it to vote and it was unanimously adopted. Thereafter, he Ruled as follows :
* Be It Resolved By This Honourable House To Condemn The Act Of Vandalization Of Street Lights, Solar Lamps And Other Public Utilities In Imo State, And Urge The Imo State Government Through The Ministry Of Homeland Security And Vigilante Afford And Other Security Related Agencies To Collaborate, Checkmate And Stop This Emerging Trend Of Pulling Down Street Lights And Stealing The Solar Lamps, And Fish Out The Perpetrators And Prosecute Them.
The Clerk was directed to communicate the Resolution of the House to His Excellency the Governor.
Author Credit: Citizen Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha