Senator Joseph Ikpea, representing Edo Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, has urged Nigerians, particularly his constituents in Edo Central, to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to security agencies and relevant authorities.
Call for Public Vigilance
In a statement made available to journalists in Benin on Thursday, Senator Ikpea emphasized that security is no longer solely the government's responsibility. He said, "It is pertinent at this juncture to call on Nigerians to be more vigilant. The issue of security, given the development in our dear nation today, has gone beyond it being the exclusive preserve of the government. All citizens must be involved and take the matter as part of their civic responsibilities to the Nigerian State."
Ikpea appealed to the people of Edo Central not to disregard the security alert raised by the Department of State Security (DSS) because it did not specifically mention their district. He noted, "It is obvious that the undesirable elements responsible for this dastardly act of kidnapping don't discriminate against tribe and region. Therefore, our people must be conscious of their environment, study all strange faces that come into their neighbourhood and take the bold step by reporting any strange activity around them to security agents and the authorities concerned. We should not wait till it happens before we act."
Commendation for Governor Okpebholo
Reacting to the closure of some schools in Edo State, Senator Ikpea commended Governor Monday Okpebholo for his proactive decision to shut down secondary schools following a red alert from the DSS about planned attacks by bandits. He stated that by closing schools prone to the threat, Okpebholo demonstrated uncommon leadership and a full grasp of governance principles that prioritize citizens' wellbeing.
Senator Ikpea said, "I want to commend His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Executive Governor of our dear state, Edo State, for the prompt decision he took yesterday by closing down three different secondary schools in the Akoko Edo Area of the state following the security alert raised by the Department of State Security that some undesirable elements in our society were planning to attack some schools in Edo North Senatorial District with a view to kidnapping our children."
He added, "The decision by Governor Okpebholo to act swiftly when he got the information goes to show his good and uncommon leadership and understanding of the principle of governance which stipulates that the government must seek the wellbeing of the people at all times. There is no doubt the decision to close the school at this period comes with its pain given that students across the nation are writing one national or sub-continental examination, it is just ideal that the governor closed the schools instead of waiting for the evil act to be perpetrated."
Senator Ikpea praised the DSS and other security agencies for their collaboration with the Okpebholo-led administration in making Edo State safe. He assured that he would continue to support any initiative by the Edo State Government to rid the state of all undesirable elements.
