The Enugu House of Assembly has urged the state executive to set up a joint military, police and forest guard patrol team to tackle insecurity.

It also called for establishment of permanent checkpoints in boundary communities and other security flash spots across the state.

This is contained in a motion of urgent public importance moved on Tuesday by the member representing Oji River Constituency, Jeff Mba, during a plenary session.

Mr Mba described the murder of former Commissioner for Rural Development in the state, Gab Onuzurike, and his elder brother, as well as the killings in Igbo-Eze North and Isi-Uzo Local Government Areas as worrisome.

According to him, tackling the multiple criminal activities requires joint efforts of security agencies.

He urged the house and local councils to organise stakeholders’ meetings to educate the citizens on the need to volunteer necessary information as well as give moral and financial support for security operatives in communities.

“Stakeholders’ involvement should also include appealing to the conscience of our youths to stay out of crimes and criminalities and reject rascality as a way of life.

“There is need to give our relatives and friends, who are looking forward to spending  Christmas and New Year holidays in Enugu State, the confidence to do so without fear of harassment from criminal elements.

“It has become imperative that the intervention of the state and federal authorities in expanding the dragnet are necessary to avoid escalation,” Mr Mba said.

Contributing, the member representing Igbo-Eze South Constituency, Emeka Madu, said the level of insecurity in Enugu was alarming, adding that residents were living in fear.

Mr Madu said that he had fallen victim to insecurity. According to him, an attempt to kidnap him failed as he escaped, but his driver was captured.

He said that the chief security officer of Igbo-Eze South LGA was still missing.

Iloabuchi Aniagu, representing Nkanu West Constituency, called for adequate equipment of the police to enable them to better discharge their responsibilities.

In his contribution, Innocent Ugwu said that many prominent people in his constituency, including politicians, could not travel home for fear of being kidnapped.

Mr Ugwu added that his constituents had to take permission from a group called Umuchineke before being allowed to conduct marriage or burial ceremonies.

He also said that many markets in the area had closed because of insecurity.

In his remarks, the Speaker of the House, Edward Ubosi, praised the initiator of the motion, describing it as timely and well-articulated.

The speaker condemned the sit-at-home order “by someone who sits at the comfort of his home,” saying the order was contributing to the loss of lives and property in the state.

(NAN)