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Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has declared that he would approve the execution of any person convicted of kidnapping in the state, even if the individual is his family member.
The governor said his administration would not show sympathy or favouritism to anyone found guilty of kidnapping, insisting that the fight against insecurity must be pursued without regard to family ties or personal relationships.
Okpebholo made the declaration in Benin City, where he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling kidnapping and other violent crimes through strict enforcement of the law.
“I pray our brothers are not involved because I would sign you too. In any case, my father, I would sign you,” he said.
The governor maintained that decisive action against criminal elements was necessary to restore security and protect residents of the state.
“The truth is this: we just have to get some bad elements out of the system for the system to stand,” he said.
Defending his administration’s position on capital punishment, the governor acknowledged that the death penalty would result in the loss of lives but argued that kidnapping had also claimed the lives of many innocent people.
“And because somebody would die… but these people are killing people and many people are being killed,” he said.
He cited the experience of the Edo State Chief Judge, whose hand he said was severed by kidnappers, as an example of the brutality associated with kidnapping in the state.
“Even our chief judge, if you see our chief judge, one of his hands was cut off by kidnappers. But a few days ago, I asked my attorney-general what happened,” the governor said.
Okpebholo disclosed that he had been following the legal proceedings involving four persons sentenced to death over the abduction of a woman at Vegetable Market, along Airport Road, Benin City.
The four convicts, identified as Marvellous Isaac, Wisdom Michael, Rufus Emete Michael and Gift Raphael, were sentenced to death by the Edo State Special Criminal Court in September 2026.
The trial judge, Aigbona Momodu, convicted them on 11-count charge bordering on kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.
The victim was abducted on June 14, 2026.
The governor, however, said he was informed by the Attorney-General that an appeal had been filed against the judgment.
“I’ve been waiting for the paper. He said they appealed. But we’ll still follow them up on the appeal,” he said.
He vowed that his administration would continue to pursue the matter through the judicial process, insisting that those convicted would not escape accountability.
“We won’t just leave them to go like that. So, we’ll get to wherever they stop. We’ll take them from there,” he said.
The governor reiterated his readiness to approve the death warrants once all necessary legal procedures had been concluded.
“We will not spare anybody. If I see this paper today, I will sign it and I will even survive the killing,” Okpebholo said.
The Edo State Government approved the implementation of the Kidnapping Prohibition (Amendment) Law, 2025, in February 2025. The law introduced the death penalty for kidnapping offences resulting in the death of victims.
