… Vows ruthless crackdown on criminals
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has announced that kidnappers convicted in Edo State will face the death penalty, specifying that execution will be carried out by hanging.
The governor made this declaration during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Uromi Town Hall, where he addressed leaders and members of the Arewa community living in Esan land.
This announcement comes in the wake of a recent legislative development by the Edo State House of Assembly, which passed a bill amending the Kidnapping Prohibition Amendment Law of 2013.
The revised law now stipulates the death penalty for kidnapping offences and grants the state authority to confiscate and demolish properties used to facilitate such crimes.
Governor Okpebholo expressed zero tolerance for the current state of insecurity, particularly kidnapping and killings, which he said his administration would tackle head-on.
He stressed that under the new law, lands and properties tied to criminal activities will be seized, demolished, and replaced with vigilante offices.
The governor added that convicted kidnappers would be executed publicly in accordance with the law, and he assured the public that he would not hesitate to sign the necessary death warrants.
He appealed for a collaborative approach to security, insisting that maintaining peace and safety was a collective responsibility and not that of security agencies alone. Governor Okpebholo announced that vigilante personnel would be properly recruited, trained, and paid salaries—marking a departure from the past, where individuals operated in uniform without formal engagement or compensation.
He also revealed plans to begin profiling individuals arriving from other states who claim to be from the North, to prevent infiltration by criminal elements.
Measures such as fencing local markets, installing streetlights, and constructing abattoirs were also outlined as part of broader efforts to improve public safety.
The governor credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his swift intervention following the recent Uromi incident, which he said helped to avert further destruction. According to him, many of those inciting violence in Edo are not Nigerians but foreign nationals, and President Tinubu has committed to restoring peace across the country.
The chairman of the Arewa community in Edo Central, Alhaji Bawa Umar, commended the governor and the Onojie of Uromi for restoring calm to the area. He affirmed the community’s support for Okpebholo’s administration, particularly in its security efforts.
Similarly, Alhaji Isah Muhammad, Chairman of the Uromi Cattle Market, praised the Governor’s response to the Uromi incident, saying it was key in reducing tension.
Retired General Cecil Esekhaigbe urged the Arewa community to create a database of their members and monitor their conduct to discourage criminality.
