Incessant, But Questionable Spate Of Kidnappings In Edo, Worrisome: calls for concern.
By: Oriaifoh Godwins
Edo state has been relatively peaceful in the past one year of Governor Monday Okpebholo's administration. However, the state, has been witnessing questionable pockets of criminalities in recent times.
Senator Monday Okpebholo, the governor of Edo state, on assumption of office, maintained that he has zero tolerance for criminal activities and all form of criminalities. He maintained this stand to the extent that a number of criminal elements that were hitherto having their field day in the state, went under.
The new trend of insecurities in Edo state, is highly questionable, especially going by the recent happenings in Benin, and in the diaspora, by some elements that have been criticising Gov. Okpebholo's administration, especially bearing in mind that, Okpebholo's practical style of governance, clearly opened the eyes of the people of Edo State to how a state should be governed.
The recent happenings of kidnappings, killings and other violent crimes, has expectedly, resulted in uprising and resentments, especially in Ekpoma. Another question, is: why this sudden rise in crime, and why Ekpoma, in Edo Central? Our security agents, and all of us, have a lot of work to do.
This trajectory of progress and development in Edo state, as orchestrated by Governor Okpebholo, should not be derailed. Our governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, should not be distracted. This wheel of progress and development in Edo State, should not be reversed.
I hope some persons are not secretly saying: "...we will make Edo state ungovernable for him"? The Universe, our ancestors and the almighty God, will frustrate the efforts of such people.
While some persons have concluded that the sudden rise in insecurity in the state, is being orchestrated by some persons that are clearly not happy about the growing popularity of Governor Monday Okpebholo, because of his unprecedented execution of various people oriented projects across Edo state, a feat, that many of his critics thought was impossible, some others are attributing the rise in crime, to the distabilization of the insurgents in the North West, and the current heat that same people are receiving in the North East, thereby making the northern part of the country unhabitable for them.
Yet, some other people, are of the opinion that the perpetrators of the crimes we are currently experiencing in the state, are criminals infiltrating Edo state from neighbouring Kogi state.
What ever may have been responsible for the rise in the level of insecurity in Edo state, one thing is sure: Whatever goes up, will surely come down, and the real ‘masquerade’ behind this insecurity in Edo state, will definitely be unmasked someday.
Having said the above, the various security outfits, including the Military, the Police, Civil Defence Corps, Edo Security Corps, the Atanakpa Security Network, must all work in Synergy to ensure that our territory is safe, especially bearing in mind that our neighbouring states of Delta and other South-South states, are not resting on their oars.
In view of the above, in my candid opinion, the so-called insurgents, bandits, or whatever name they are called, are still testing the waters; if they notice that our security architecture is weak, or complacent, that will give them the temerity to invite their colleagues, but God forbid for this to happen. If on the other hand, they are met with strong resistance, and they record heavy casualties, they will retreat. After all, they tested the waters in Rivers State, but the ASAWANA boys responded to them with the only language they understand.
Finally, I commend the Chairman of Esan West local government area, Hon. Ebhodaghe For the measures, he has so far taken, with respect to curbing the rising level of insecurity in Ekpoma, by prohibiting the operations of motorbikes, Okada, and tricycles, Kekenapep, in Esan West local government area, from 7 pm daily. This is a good step in the right direction, and I wish to use this opportunity to call on all other local government authorities in the state, to be proactive in the fight against insecurity.