Okpekpe: Edo Govt. Sympathizes with Families of Persons Killed by Herdsmen
…Warns PDP to stop instigating Insecurity in the state
By Simeon OSAJIE
Edo State Government has sympathized with families of two persons killed by suspected herdsmen at Okpekpe Community in Etsako East Local Government Area and warned the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to stop instigating insecurity in the state.
The Commissioner for information and Communication, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu in a statement in Benin City berated the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for their failure to tackle insecurity in the state for eight years.
“The Governor is very serious about the security of lives and property in the state and will not tolerate any act to orchestrate violence, criminality, kidnapping, cultism and murder.
The PDP should stay away from fomenting problems in the state because it is becoming clear from all indications that they are responsible for instigating all this insecurity in the state and anyone caught will be dealt with according to the law.
The governor bought brand new motor bikes to go to the nook and crannies of the communities to show his seriousness to tackle insecurity and he signed the Edo State Secret Cult and Similar Activities Prohibition Bill into law 2025, thereby approving 21-year jail term for cultist and their sponsors.
“The PDP should not forget that there is a law of cultism and even similar activities that have been passed into law. When any report is linked to any one of them, they will be picked up and dealt with and there will be no sacred cows when it comes to infraction or violation of law,” he added.
The Commissioner stated that the unrest and insecurity in the state is a residue of unfulfilled promises of the Godwin Obaseki administration which the present government of Senator Monday Okpebholo is poised to solve.
According to the Commissioner, the PDP should hide their head in shame because they could not account for how they spent their security votes in eight years which led to the insecurity and the rise in cult related crisis.
“But today, barely one hundred days in office, Governor Monday Okpebholo has purchased brand new vehicles and motorcycles to confront the problem of insecurity which will soon be a thing of the past.
“The Security agencies charged with the responsibility of fighting crime in the state have been mobilized with brand new vehicles and new Motor cycles by Governor Okpebholo which was not so in the past.
“The Governor has matched words with action by providing working equipment for security agencies to operate in the three Senatorial Districts to protect the lives and property of Edo People,” he noted.
“The reaction of the PDP is obviously a way to show remorse for the wrong they have done to Edo People and they are only passing the buck of their failure on security because if they took security seriously the way Governor Okpebholo started with it, by now Edo State would have been free from this menace,” the Commissioner added.
In his words, “the Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has taken the necessary steps to secure the state and the opposition PDP is only using the incident to whip up political sentiments.
“It is however sad that the PDP led administration could not avert any security crisis during their time. But Edo People know that the problem started because the security votes were not used judiciously for the purpose it was meant for.”
The Commissioner further noted that It would be recalled that the herders farmers crisis came back long time ago, adding that, ” We are against the open grazing system which is a problem and this government is prepared to solve it the way we have done eighty percent with cult issues in the state.”
While commiserating with the families that lost their loved ones, on behalf of the state government, Hon Paul Ohonbamu stated that the security agencies and the Coordinator of Edo State Security Corps, CP Friday Ibadin (Rtd) are on top of the investigations and he appealed for everyone in the area to remain calm.
