Blessing Okorite, Port Harcourt
The Rivers State House of Assembly has set up three man ad hoc committee to tackle the issue trending serial killings in the State.
Members of the committee who were mandated to work in synergy with security agencies and other government agencies in stamping out the menace in the state include Kelechi Nworgu, member representing Omuma constituency (Chairman), Solomon Sokolo, lawmaker representing Abua/Odua (member) and Michael O. Chinda, representing Obio/Akpor constituency (member).
It would be recalled that about 10 ladies have been strangled to death in the state in the past five months by suspected serial killer who may still be at large, hence protest by hundreds of concern women to the Rivers State House of Assembly, State Government House, Police Headquarters and office of the Department of State Security, all in Port Harcourt.
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During their protest, the women demanded a stop to the menace, seeking the agencies to step up action to the arrest of the serial killers.
However, on Thursday, lawmaker representing Emohua constituency, Sam Ogeh, presented a motion to the House, seeking a law that will tackle the serial killing menace and other security challenges in the state, he urged the Assembly to give hotelier new strategies to handle such issues.
At the end of debate on the motion, the House resolved to set up an ad hoc committee that will work with other government agencies to eradicate the menace from the state.
Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Ikuinyi Owaji Ibani who announced set up ad hoc committee, after going through the three prayers as contained in the motion, said “The issue of serial killings, because what has been happening for sometime in succession can be attributable to serial killing and is a nova element introduce into our state. Is part of the insecurity we are facing now. And we all are aware, the role security agencies, what security agencies are doing, what the Chief Security Officer, the governor of the state is doing in conjunction with the security agencies to get at the root of the matter.
“We have heard that the police have arrested two suspects in this regard, meaning they are closing in on the criminals. The issue of security is so verse that the mere fact that we are debating this issue does not mean even as lawmakers we have absolute knowledge. Knowledge is contributory, contribution from other agencies will also aid what we are doing here, it will give us further and better particulars for us to reach and form decision by way of resolution of the House.
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“I think the resolution we are going to have now will be an interim resolution so that we will take prayer one which is “condemning such act in strong terms” which all members who spoke agreed on.
“The House has resolved that it is condemnable the act of serial killing as recorded in the state and that an ad hoc committee be set up by the House. Members of the ad hoc committee are, Kelechi Nworgu, Chairman, Solomon Sokolo, member and Michael Okechukwu Chinda, member.
“The committee should report back to the House on the next adjourned date because is an issue we are not going to leave long. We have to follow it bumper to bumper, so that we will be able to keep the world or the public abreast with what is happening and make our position as an Assembly very clear because we represent the interest of all”.
Meanwhile; the House has adjourned till October 3, 2019.