By DADA AYOKHAI
The much-touted security summit, convened by key leaders from Edo North senatorial district has proven ineffective as the level of insecurity in the area continues to escalate, despite the optimistic facade presented by the organizers.
A secure meeting which was tagged Security summit held in the hometown of former governor and current senator, Adams Oshiomhole was attended by prominent figures from Edo North’s political landscape, primarily from the APC.
The presence of the state governor, Sen .Monday Okpebholo at the summit further raised the hope of many.
The advertised purpose of the security summit was to develop a blueprint to stem the alarming rise in kidnappings and other criminal activities plaguing the district.
Gov. Okpebholo had after the meeting held behind closed doors, said under his watch, criminal elements would not be allowed to destabilise the state and vowed to deal with them decisively and make the state inhabitable for their activities.
However, almost two months post-summit, the situation remains dire.
The district which some areas are under siege by criminals, now face an even more grave threat.
Residents are left questioning the intentions of their leaders, who gathered in Iyamho under the pretence of addressing the severe insecurity that has only worsened.
The audacity of kidnappers has reached new heights, leaving law enforcement agencies frustrated and powerless.
The silence from elected officials has been deafening, giving rise to a sense of abandonment among the populace.
Meanwhile, the state government appears helpless, compelling citizens to place their hopes solely in divine intervention.
For instance, a Labour Party chieftain in Akoko Edo has spent weeks in captivity despite the payment of the ransom demanded by his kidnappers
The story is not in any way different in the three local government areas of Etsako
The situation has forced Edo North residents to question the efficacy of the security summit
What led these leaders to convene in Iyamho if they had no tangible solutions to propose?
This is the kind of question that resonates deeply with the citizens of Edo North, who are increasingly convinced the summit served only as a political spectacle rather than a serious effort to address pressing security issues.
Many locals have expressed their belief that the summit was merely a diversionary tactic, a ploy to create a false sense of security while conditions worsened.
They urged the state governor, Sen. Monday Okpevbolo to take decisive action and intervene urgently to protect residents from the relentless grip of kidnappers who have nearly overrun the district.
