Tired of the rising insecurity in Edo State? One community is taking matters into its own hands! The Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, Lukman Akemokue, has forged an unlikely alliance between local hunters and herders to create a joint security outfit. This isn’t your typical vigilante group – it’s a strategic partnership designed to tackle crime head-on.
Quick Points:
- Joint Security: Hunters and herders are working together to protect Okpella.
- Ethnic Profiling: The community is rejecting harmful stereotypes and focusing on collaboration.
- Arrests Made: The new security strategy is already yielding results, with kidnappers apprehended.
- Kidnapping is a Business: The monarch highlights the complex network behind kidnapping, involving various ethnicities.
- Community-Wide Effort: The initiative aims to ensure the safety of residents, businesses, and workers.
The Problem: Insecurity in Edo North
Edo North has been plagued by a surge in kidnappings and clashes between herders and farmers. The traditional approach of blaming one group isn’t working. Okuokpellagbe Lukman Akemokue realized that a new strategy was needed – one that embraced collaboration over division.
The Solution: Hunters and Herders Unite
The Okuokpellagbe took a bold step: bringing together local hunters and Fulani herders to form a joint security body. He emphasized that many Fulani herders are law-abiding residents who are also victims of crime.
Building Trust and Confidence
To foster trust, the monarch engaged with the Sarki Fulani in Okpella and Engr Saleh Kuba of Myetti-Allah Kauta Hore. These conversations revealed crucial insights and paved the way for a collaborative approach.
Immediate Results
The joint security outfit is already making a difference! Several kidnappers have been caught and handed over to the police. The culprits include individuals from various ethnic groups, proving that crime knows no boundaries.
Kidnapping: An Organized Business
The Okuokpellagbe shed light on the complex network behind kidnapping. It’s not just random acts of violence; it’s an organized business with a value chain involving monitors, grabbers, off-takers, and collectors.
The Value Chain Explained:
- Monitors: They identify potential victims.
- Grabbers: They kidnap the victims and sell them to off-takers.
- Off-takers: They hold the victims and negotiate ransoms.
- Collectors: They collect the ransom money.
A Call for Collaboration
The monarch urged his fellow Royal Highnesses in Edo North to adopt this collaborative approach in their domains. He stressed the importance of working with security agencies and developing a robust security architecture.
What’s Next?
The community plans to engage security experts to develop a comprehensive security strategy. They are also committed to securing the funds needed to implement and sustain the initiative.
The Big Picture
This initiative in Okpella offers a glimmer of hope in the fight against insecurity. By rejecting ethnic profiling and embracing collaboration, the community is paving the way for a safer and more prosperous future. This is not just about security; it’s about building a stronger, more united community.
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