… as state, security agencies to begin raid, disarming of unlicensed arm bearers
The Edo State government has observed the level of wanton destruction perpetrated by thugs and elements working in connivance with former Deputy Governor of the State, Philip Shaibu in the guise of purportedly enforcing a judgement reinstating him in office.
Shaibu led thugs through the Airport Road axis of Benin City, attacking innocent citizens and unleashing mayhem on private citizens who are going about their lawful businesses.
The state government through a statement by Chris Osa Nehikhare, Hon. Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, yesterday, warned Shaibu to desist from this turn to violence in the pretense that he is enforcing a judgement. He is reminded that he is not above the law and is liable for the wanton destruction perpetrated by him and his co-travellers.
“Shaibu’s violent tendencies are well documented and he has been warned at different times by respected figures of society, including the revered Benin Monarch to shun violence.
“We want to reiterate that Shaibu will face the consequences of violence that he has resorted to in pursuit of his aim to return to the Edo State Government House even when he is aware that a stay of execution of the judgement has been filed.
“We enjoin the general public to be calm and go about their lawful businesses as the government will continue to deploy the instrumentality of the state to restore and maintain law and order in the State in the face of undue provocation”, according to the statement.
In a similar note, thee state government is working with security agencies to commence a massive raid across the 18 local government areas of the state to disarm persons bearing unlicensed arms and ammunition.
Governorr Obaseki disclosed this after a closed-door Security Council Meeting, held at the EXCO Chamber, Government House, in Benin City.
The governor, who acknowledged the progress recorded so far by the special team set up by the government to review and curb the incidence of cultism in the state, said the state will intensify efforts to totally wipe out all criminal gangs and ensure the safety and security of the people
According to Obaseki, “We just concluded our Security Council meeting where we reviewed the security situation in Edo State, looking specifically at incidents relating to security over the last one month. We also reviewed incidents in the first six months in 2024.
“In the last one month, we have seen a decline in insecurity incidents such as cultism, homicide, and kidnapping which are the top three crimes in the State that we have been tracking.”
Noting the gains recorded by the special team, the governor said, “After the last Security Council meeting, we set up a special team to look into the issues of crime and crime-rated activities, headed by the Director of DSS. The team swung into action and from the report we have gotten so far, we have seen a decrease in cultism and homicide related to cultism as was the case for the first five months of this year.
“The council decided that we are not relenting and that we are going to increase the tempo of activities. We have given the team the list of all reports we have received till date on the activities of Okaigheles in all the different communities.”
He further noted, “Parts of the strategy is that raids will be carried out and the homes of identified members of those gangs will be raided. We would intensify most of our activities to locate people who are keeping arms in the communities and their homes, with a view of disarming those who have no authority to keep arms.
‘Council analyzed in-depth, the security report presented. It revealed that there are about five local governments that we need to focus on specifically since these local governments account for over 50 percent of incidents in the State.”
Obaseki added, “We are going to be having meetings weekly over the next four or five weeks with members of the Security Council of these local governments with a view to understanding in greater detail what is going on there and narrowing our investigations to communities where these incidents occur very frequently.”
On his part, the Edo State Police Commissioner, Funsho Adegboye said the new anti-cultism law is effective and commendable as the State Police Command recorded zero incidents in the State within the period under review, especially during the popular 7/7 Day where cultists used to have a field day to celebrate their activities.
