From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Edo State Government would soon unveil a new security architecture following the training of elite corps to tackle kidnappings and other crimes in the state.
The training which includes overhauling of local vigilantes is being handled by very senior retired military officers in the state in alignment with Governor Monday Okpebholo’s commitment to checking the twin-challenge of kidnapping and cultism to ensure that expected investors in the state were not scared away.
Commissioner for Information and Communication, Paul Ohonbamu, who disclosed this in Benin City, said the Nigeria Police need to wake up to its responsibility to fight crimes in the country.
He said to check crimes, Governor Okpebholo is taking a bold step which many governors before him failed to take.
On the demolitions of properties linked to kidnappers and cultists by the state government which have generated controversies, Ohonbamu explained that the state anti-kidnapping and cultism law sanctions it, adding that those properties destroyed were confirmed by their owners to be linked to cultisms or kidnappings.
He assured the people of the state that the full complement of the state executive council would soon be composed by the state governor.
“On the issue of herdsmen, it is part of the training they are going through now, under those retired military officers. Once these ones are out, you will see a brand new Edo State Security Corps which is to check kidnapping because from the point of entry, they will be stationed”, Ohonbamu explained.
On why the efforts in the state were not being felt unlike what groups like Amotekun is doing in the West, the Commissioner said “The reason the system in the South Western states is working is because there is synergy and that is what you will get now. But I praise our governor for his boldness, you see governors lamenting, come to our aid, come to our aid but the governor is taking bold steps while others are complaining. He heard from the police, he bought brand new hilux vans, 100 in number and gave them to them and the other security operatives.
“He bought 1000 power bikes for people to comb the bushes, he ensured that there was arms mop up, they collected illegal arms from people, about 5000 recovered. He has put things in place that will make them, you know, work effectively.
“The police needs to also wake up and put on the confident badge of sovereignty to say, this is Nigerian Police Force, and we must stop what is happening, especially when you have a governor that is ready to support their operations
“Before now, you saw that the vigilante, the Edo State Security Corps was headed by different people in different cults, but this governor said no, it must be Ibadin and even Ibadin is not there now, those who are arranging this present one, they are all retried very senior military officers. So we all know what the man wants, he wants decency in the society.
“He is planning to turn the place into a portable paradise, bringing investors and when you now see some negatives that will dissuade people from coming. No, he does not want it and he has told the people so.”
On the full complement of the state executive council, Ohonbamu said “very soon the full exco will be constituted, the list was released but because of squabbles here and there and several people wanting their names to be there, the governor decided that the tribunal is still on, so let us finish everything, but very soon it will be done because I know that the list is ready and very soon the names will be released and they will take off.”
He also disclosed that the state government would soon award the contract for the construction of a third flyover bridge at Dawson/First Junction on Akpakpava Road in Benin City to help check traffic jams.
The Commissioner allayed the fear of Nigerians over the country turning into one party state following the state of defections into the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying that “Defection is predicted on survivalist instinct” and that for “those defecting to remain in their party would amount to signing their political death warrant by themselves.”