Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO), on Wednesday, called on government at all levels to tackle the spate of insecurity in the country, saying every citizen has a right to life.

The Coordinator-General of the group, Leftist Omobude Agho, made the call in Benin during a roadshow commemorating International Human Rights Day 2025.

Agho, who lamented that Nigerians now live in palpable fear due to rising insecurity across the country, urged the Edo State governor to equip the local security networks to help stem the tide of the influx of bandits and terrorists trying to infiltrate the South-South region.

“We are using the World Human Rights Day as a speaking point that the level of insecurity in Nigeria is very, very bad. We are very scared now more than ever.

“We have heard rumours of the bandits or the terrorists already taking over our bushes, and we think that the governor should wake up to his responsibility to govern and place high incentive on the vigilante, the one they call the state security network, so that they can be on salaries.

“They can also be well equipped with good arms and ammunition so that they can effectively patrol our bushes and environment to scare away threats, because we cannot simply say to apprehend, to scare, and chase away all these bandits and terrorists who are already moving from the north to the southern side of Nigeria. We think the governor should wake up to his responsibilities responsibility”, Agho said.

He also lamented the high level of impunity and oppression of the ordinary citizens, either by the government itself or by some persons who have some political connections.

He noted that the rally became necessary to enlighten and sensitise citizens about their rights so they can seek redress when their rights are violated.

Speaking also, the Secretary General of the group, Leftist God’s Power Okunbo, said that although the level of awareness of citizens’ rights is increasing in the state, much still needs to be done to ensure that citizens are fully aware of their rights.

He stated that in their effort to ensure citizens are familiar with their rights, they have established centres across the 18 local government areas of the state where people are being educated about their rights, using Nigeria’s constitution as a guide.