I will sign death warrants for convicted kidnappers that don’t appeal in 30 days -Okpebholo

From Tony Osauzo, Benin

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has said he will sign the death warrants of the four convicts in the Vegetable Market, Airport Road, Benin City kidnapping case if they do not appeal their sentence within the stipulated 30 days.

The governor, who gave the assurance while speaking during a fellowship at God’s People Worldwide Prayer Ministry, where he reviewed his administration’s efforts to curb kidnapping, cultism and other violent crimes in Edo State, said insecurity was one of the biggest worries he met on assuming office. He added that he raised the state of the roads and the security situation with President Bola Tinubu at their meeting. He said when the gunmen struck at the Vegetable Market, he called the President, who asked if he could handle it, and he said he could.

He said he then prayed for the kidnappers to be caught within 24 hours before calling the Commissioner of Police to demand their arrest.

“I told him I wanted these guys arrested because I already have an approval from God, and they were caught within that time,” he said.

Governor Okpebholo said the suspects have since been sentenced to death, and he hoped they would not appeal.

“They are already sentenced to death, and I pray they don’t appeal the judgment. Even when they appeal the judgment, they are only delaying time. If within 30 days, they don’t appeal, I will execute,” he said.

An Edo State Special Criminal Court on September 29 2026 sentenced four defendants to death for the abduction of a woman at the Vegetable Market along Airport Road, Benin City.

The governor said that before he began the campaign against kidnapping and cultism, he met prominent traditional rulers across the state to warn them against interceding for anyone involved in the crimes.