Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has stated that criminals operating in the state are being reinforced by recruits from other parts of the country. He made this known yesterday while addressing participants at the 2026 Ministers' Conference organized by the Edo State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Benin City.
Local Collaborators and Hired Gangs
The governor explained that criminal activities are being carried out with the help of local collaborators who arrange kidnap-for-ransom operations and hand over victims to hired gangs in the bush. He noted that while insecurity remains a genuine concern, much of what is being circulated on social media about the situation in Edo is false and orchestrated to discredit his administration.
Okpebholo cited a recent example where he received a report of an incident along Sapele Road and immediately deployed security operatives, only to discover that nothing had happened. He said, "Do you know one funny thing? Our people are now going outside Edo to recruit criminals to help them do the job. They will kidnap somebody and hand the victim over to them in the bush."
Governor's Appeal to Religious Leaders
The governor urged religious leaders not to intercede on behalf of anyone arrested for criminal activity, stating that such interventions would not be entertained. "Pastors, if you hear that I have arrested somebody, don't come to beg me," he said. He acknowledged that the state is not entirely free of security challenges but insisted that the situation is being exaggerated by those with political motives.
Deployment of Forest Guards
Meanwhile, the Edo State Government has assured residents that forests and farmlands across the state will soon become safer with the recruitment and ongoing training of forest guards drawn from indigenous populations in local council areas and host communities. Chief Press Secretary to Governor Senator, Dr. Patrick Ebojele, disclosed this during a radio programme, As E De Hot'.
Ebojele explained that the decision to recruit locals is intended to strengthen security operations by leveraging their knowledge of the terrain. "These are people who know the environment. They understand the forests, the pathways, and the communities. That local knowledge is a major advantage in securing rural areas and protecting farmers who depend on these lands," he said.
He stated that the initiative is part of Okpebholo's broader security strategy to complement the efforts of conventional security agencies and improve surveillance in rural communities vulnerable to criminal activity. Speaking on last Sunday's abduction of a woman at the Vegetable Market in Benin City, Ebojele said the Edo State Police Command had commenced investigation immediately after the governor directed security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators were apprehended.
