Every life in Edo must be protected says Governor Okpebholo

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo on Monday assured residents that, his administration will protect every life in the state, urging community leaders and security stakeholders to collaborate with security agencies to tackle insecurity.

“Edo has a history. Edo must be protected as every soul, every life in this land matters to us as a government. We are not prepared to lose any soul in the state as a result of insecurity,” Okpebholo said.

The governor spoke in Benin City while addressing Okaighele from the seven local government areas in Edo South Senatorial District on the need for stronger collaboration with security agencies to improve security across the state.

The Sir Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub along Airport Road, venue of the meeting, was filled with security stakeholders, including security chiefs, vigilante groups, members of the Edo State Security Corps and other community security groups.

Okpebholo said security was a collective responsibility and urged residents to report threats and suspicious movements in their communities.

“Security is not a one-man show but everybody’s business and duty. We all live in different communities and streets. I encourage you to report any security threats in your areas,” he said.

He said the government would not allow criminals from outside Edo to enter the state to kidnap residents, adding that all stakeholders had a role to play in protecting the state.

“We are doing all we are doing to protect our land. We would not allow foreigners and people from other states into our land to kidnap our people. We all have a duty of collaboration to protect the state,” the governor said.

Okpebholo also assured residents that Edo would become safer in the coming weeks, saying the government had put strategies in place to improve response to security threats.

“In the next few weeks, Edo State will be safer than what it is today because we have put strategies on ground to police the state,” he said.

He said a distress call would trigger a rapid security response, with five to seven security vehicles expected to arrive within five minutes, adding that motorcycles would be provided to security personnel to enable them to access remote parts of forests where criminals may be hiding.

The governor said the meeting was aimed at developing modalities for collaboration among Okaighele, police, vigilante groups and other security agencies to strengthen community policing.

He said security agencies had been working late into the night to recover dangerous weapons and protect residents, adding that his administration had also made significant progress in its fight against cultism.

Okpebholo urged youths and community leaders to provide credible information to security agencies to help sustain the gains recorded in the fight against cultism, kidnapping and other crimes.

Recalling the kidnapping incident at the Vegetable Market, the governor said the perpetrators were arrested within 24 hours after they came from another state to carry out the crime in Edo.

“If you commit crime in Edo State, you will be caught. We have arrested criminals who come from outside of Edo State, like in Niger, Kogi, Bauchi and other states, and we have rescued our people,” he said.

Okpebholo said insecurity could discourage investors from coming to the state, promising to make Edo safe enough to attract investment and support economic growth.

Commissioner for Public Safety and Security, Festus Ebea commended the governor for his efforts to tackle insecurity, saying the administration had demonstrated its commitment and capacity to eradicate cultism and kidnapping in the state.

Ebea urged Okaighele to remain vigilant, report suspicious persons and occurrences and provide timely and accurate information to security agencies.

The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, also commended the governor for convening the meeting, urging Okaighele to see themselves as custodians of security in their communities and work closely with security agencies.

Commander, 107 Air Force Base, Air Commodore Victor Eze Only, said Edo was making progress on security, adding that the necessary machinery had been put in place to tackle criminal elements in the state.

Special Adviser on Community and Traditional Matters, Chief Emmanuel Iyase, said the Oba of Benin was organising Okaighele in various communities to support the governor’s efforts to improve security.

Iyase said the governor had joined forces with traditional and community leaders to provide security for residents, adding that Okpebholo had directed Okaighele in Edo South to form committees across communities to strengthen collaboration with the government on security.