BENIN CITY- Edo State was for some weeks in the news not for the very cherry reasons as crime upsurge grew to some worrisome levels and many Edo people at home and in Diaspora were wondering what was amiss.
There is no gainsaying the fact that since the All Progressives Congress, APC took over the reins of power in Edo State, it has invested heavily to tackle insecurity in the State which was hitherto a hot bed of armed robbery, human trafficking, assassination and murder under the PDP government. Going by statistics, crime was drastically reduced in Edo State under the leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

However, three incidents that occurred in the state which saw to the killing of three Police men and eventual kidnap of the Chief Executive Officer of Ogba Zoological Garden and Natures Park Mr. Andy Ehanire, the kidnap and shooting of wife of Music Maestro, Osayomore Joseph and the killing of a University of Benin Don, Prof. Paul Otasowie left every peace-loving people of Edo Sate bemused and wondering what Haliru Gwandu was really doing in the state.

The Governor as Chief security Officer of the State was not receiving the full cooperation of Haliru Gwandu to deal decisively with the new wave of crime and criminality. Edo people were yearning for quick intervention from the relevant authorities. Governor Obaseeki was clear on the need for a new security architecture to be enforced in the state.

In response to the yearnings of the majority of Edo people, a new Commissioner of Police Mr. Johnson Babatude Kokumo was deployed to the state to replace the controversial Haliru Gwandu who is now gone for good.
It was interesting to note that the new Commissioner of Police, on inspecting some offices at the police command base, immediately convened emergency meeting of heads of department and special squads and declared that there was “no time to waste, I am starting work right away”. Kokumo who took over from the controversial Haliru Gwandu has within few days of arriving into the state ensured the bursting of two major crimes perpetrated by hoodlums that had thrown Edo into the negative spotlight in security matters.

The recent arrest by the State Police Command of seven persons in connection with the murder of Prof. Paul Otasowie, a lecturer with the University of Benin, killers of three police officers who also kidnapped Andy Ehanire, the Chief Executive of Ogba Zoological Garden, give good reason for Governor Obaseki’s firmness in demanding a new commissioner of police for the state.

It is my considered opinion that the new CP deserves an early commendation. It is obvious that the security situation in Edo required the Midas touch of a core professional and experienced police officer to take charge and the new commissioner is living up to his words within the short period of time that he assumed duty. It is an obvious show of a clean separation between the boys and the men.
Otasowie, a senior lecturer in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, was on October 4 gruesomely murdered by gunmen at his residence in Ekehuan area, in Oredo Local Government Area of the state. He was the Director of the institution’s Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme. He was obviously trailed by his killers to his house before they executed their dastardly act.

It is heartwarming for all Edo people and indeed, Nigerians at large to hear the police under the leadership of Kokumo say that seven out of those principally responsible for his killing have been arrested and each has given useful statements that would enable their full prosecution.
Interestingly too, Governor Godwin Obaseki, while receiving the new CP , at the Government House in Benin City, assured him that he would work with him to enforce a new security architecture in the state. The Governor equally pledged his administration’s support for the new police commissioner to enable him succeed in his new assignment. His words: “We will give you the needed support to succeed. We believe that the responsibility for restoring law and order rests with the police. We hope that you will fulfill your constitutional responsibility by helping us enforce law and order in Edo State,” The governor then tasked him to urgently change the security plan he inherited from Gwandu to curb crimes in the state.

It is, therefore important that all Edo people should join the governor to appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for his prompt response in approving the request for a new police commissioner by deploying Mr. Kokumo to the state.
But it is not yet an Uhuru. The new Edo Police Commissioner and his team must sustain this feat because there is widespread of insecurity in the land owing to the consequences of recession experienced nationwide which saw many able-bodied people lose their jobs. The general unemployment situation in the country doesn’t appear to be helping security matters. These challenges notwithstanding, Edo people believe that the new CP has the requisite experience to help in securing life and property in the state.

Most importantly, Ambassador Osayomore Joseph must be freed from his captors and reconciled with his family. The rate of breaking and entry and other petty robbery incidences in some parts of Benin City in particular must be brought to an immediate stop as the city is now a destination of investors from around the country and the international society There are several companies and industries that have moved into the state and many more are on their way as a result of the performance of the APC administration as a direct response of massive infrastructural developments going on in the state.

It is important to urge our “Wake and See Governor”, Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki to do everything within his powers and available resources to support the new CP and other Security agencies in the state to enable them bring the security situation to an all time low as was the case before recent unfortunate incidences.
Mr. Dan Owegie is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo State.