Death of Oyo's only opposition legislator - Senate asks police to probe murder

The Senate on Sunday, condemned the murder of the only opposition member in the Oyo State House of Assembly, the Late Gideon Aremu and called on the police to thoroughly investigate the incident with a view to bringing the culprits to book.

The upper chamber, which stated this in a statement by the Chairman of its Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Sabi Abdullahi, said the untimely and unfortunate death of any Nigerian should be prevented, condemned and investigated.

It stated that legislators by the nature of their responsibilities should be free to mingle with people and move about at any point in time in response to calls by their constituents.

“The murder of a lawmaker sends a wrong signal to the local and international community about the state of security in the nation,” Abdullahi said in the statement.

He said that if a lawmaker was gruesomely murdered with ease, “how safe can a visitor or ordinary people be.”

The statement read, “Legislators across the world are becoming endangered species. Before the murder of Hon. Aremu in Nigeria, we have seen the gruesome killing of Jo Cox, the British member of Parliament who was murdered while campaigning for retaining Britain in the European Union.

“This only shows that legislators like every of their constituents are more vulnerable in an insecure environment.

“That is why we call on the Police and other security agencies to intensify their crime prevention and detection activities. If police can foil assassination attempts and unravel cases of murder within reasonable time, it will serve as disincentive and deterrent to those who perpetrate evil deeds.

“The Senate therefore call on government to provide better facilities, incentives and motivation as well as constant training to law enforcement agencies so that they can further protect lives and properties in our society.

“We specifically call on the police to move quickly against the killers of the late Aremu and their sponsors before they have the opportunity to cover their tracks. We appeal to the people to help the Police in their investigation of this sad incident and others before it.”

“The senate commiserated with the family of the deceased legislator, the people of Orelope State constituency, his colleagues in the Oyo State House of Assembly and the people of Oyo State in general and pray to God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.