Edo Gov, Okpebholo, Insists On Fight Against Cultism, Kidnapping
By Ugochi Nwoke
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to fighting cultism, kidnapping, and other crimes in the state, reaffirming that the demolition of criminal hideouts woukd continue.
Governor Okpebholo made this declaration during an interactive session with youths across the 18 local government areas of the state at the New Festival Hall in Government House, Benin.
He emphasized that his administration would not spare criminals in the state, and ensuring that Edo remained safe for all.
He told the youths, “We will fight cultism to a standstill, and if that is the only achievement for me as Governor of Edo State, I will be satisfied. If you have a kidnapper as a brother or friend, ask him to leave your house, or else you will soon be homeless, as demolition of kidnappers’ hideouts will continue in the state.”
The governor assured that his administration would pay double for every weapon returned under the amnesty programme, aimed at ensuring peace and unity in the state. “I will pay double for every gun voluntarily returned by cultists who embrace the amnesty programme,” he said.
He also urged youths to desist from crimes as kidnapping and cultism, but to allow the police to do their job.
“We must keep Edo safe and deal with the pressing issues facing the state,” he emphasized. “If not, investors will not come to invest in Edo State.”
The governor commended the Chief Judge of Edo State for supporting the fight against criminality and acknowledged that tough strategies must be employed to make progress. “We all must collaborate to keep Edo safe,” he said.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the National Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Edo State chapter, Comrade Moses Aguinede Joseph, commended the governor for inviting Edo youths for an interaction to solve challenges facing the youths. “This interactive session is a good way to solve the challenges facing the youths of Edo State and it shows that the governor is a listening governor and father to all in the state,” he said.
The youths appealed to the governor to talk to security agencies to stop extorting innocent Edo youths who had been victims of police extortion.
They also urged the police to follow the rule of law and not take the law into their hands.
The Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agnonika, at the occasion, commended the governor for the interactive session and for engaging youths to discuss the way forward for Edo state.
He acknowledged complaints from the public about police misconduct and appealed for collaboration in eliminating such behaviour among the few offenders
