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The Senate has expressed disgust over the arrest and intimidation of Nigerians by the government of Benin.
The lawmakers also picked holes in the illegal encroachment and seizure of Nigerian lands by the Republic of Benin.
The Senate took the position at plenary following a motion raised by Senator Tolu Odebiyi (APC, Ogun West), which cited reports by some national dailies chronicling the arrest by Benin Security agents, of one Pastor Kunle Gab, and Benjamin Amosu , both residents of Iboko village in Iyawe north local government area of Ogun state, for demanding the reversal of land encroachment by the government of the Republic of Benin.
Odebiyi,who described the situation as alarming,emphasized the for immediate action to be taken for their release.
Odebiyi said the action contravenes the bilateral agreement of both countries, warning that if not properly handled it could degenerate to unrest and mass action by citizens.
He recalled that the arrest was made without a court order.
He recalled the numerous reports of alleged encroachments into Nigeria’s territory by authorities of the Republic of Benin, which, according to him, “has become increasingly disturbing.
“Notes that, according to a report by CHANNELS TV station posted on the 2nd of July 2021, it was reported that, “gendarmes” from the Republic of Benin crossed ILLEGALLY into Nigeria territory to carry out the arrest of one Pastor Kunle Garb and Mr. Benjamin Amosu, his interpreter, who are residents of Igbokofi Village in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State for demanding the reversal of the land encroachment by Government of the Republic of Benin;
Notes that the arrest of these Nigerians is based on the allegation that they are resisting encroachment into Nigerian Land through Igbokofi village in Yewa-North local government area of Ogun State;
“Further Notes that these allegations of encroachment have been also flayed by the government of the state as published in a release from the State Government calling on the Federal Government to immediately secure the release of Nigerian citizens currently languishing in detention in the Republic of Benin as a result of their resistance to the continued encroachment;
Aware that the continuous “unchecked” Egress and Ingress of persons at the different entry points and borders between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin – the country’s closest neighbour, are largely the result of the porosity of our country’s borders;
“Further Aware that the said Pastor Kunle Garb and Mr. Benjamin Amosu were allegedly arrested in Nigeria in a gestapo style and shipped to prison in Ajase, Port Novo area of Benin Republic, without an order of a competent court of jurisdiction in Nigeria;
Disturbed that this very sad event is in contradiction to the mutually beneficial bilateral relationship that is currently in place between both countries and is a huge deviation from the provisions of Section 6 of the Extradition Act, CAP E25, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 which clearly states the processes in matters of Extradition.
Further disturbed, that this action by the Government and agents of the Republic of Benin are capable of causing huge unrest, and can lead to mass action against citizens residing in both countries;
Concerned that if these actions as allegedly committed by the Government and agents of the Republic of Benin is not urgently investigated and properly looked into, it might degenerate into a diplomatic row between both countries.”
The Senate directed its Committees on Foreign Affairs, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, and States and Local Governments to interface with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federal Ministry of Justice and National Border Commission to urgently put in place the necessary mechanism that would provide lasting solutions to this issue.
Meanwhile,the House of Representatives Tuesday passed for second reading the bill seeking to create state police and other state security services.
According to the sponsor, Hon. Onofiok Luke, during debate on the general principles, “this bill seeks to excise Item 45 (Police and other government security services) from the Exclusive Legislative List and place same on the Concurrent Legislative List to give allowance for different state governments to legislate on security matters, which will effectively give state governments powers to establish state police.”
He noted that the federal structuring of security does not encourage community policing or localisation of policing.
“Recruitment and subsequent deployment of police officers in their local area is one of the major ways of curbing crime. Such officers understand the area, terrain, language, behaviour and attitude of the people he or she is policing,” he said.
According to him, “the primary responsibility of every government all over the world is to protect and preserve the lives and properties of its citizens and to maintain law and order.”
“The principle of social contract is chiefly anchored on this responsibility where the people relinquished and contracted their rights to government for the protection of their lives and properties,” he stated.
He lamented that failure on the part of government to keep to this basic responsibility/contractual term portends danger.
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