Edo Residents Frustrated by Government Laments and Condolences Over Kidnappings

The Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has urged Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo to fulfill his duties by allocating the state’s security budget effectively to address the rising insecurity.

This appeal follows the abduction of a woman at a vegetable market in central Benin City on Sunday, 15 June 2026.

The CRPP said residents are tired of lamenting and listening to government messages of commiseration with traumatised families.

National Chairman Dr. Samson Isibor and National Secretary Nkama Waribe made the statement to newsmen in Benin City.

They expressed alarm that armed criminals are now “so daring and emboldened to the point of operating right within Benin City, the state capital, in broad daylight.”

The group claimed that investors are now on the run because of the insecurity in the state.

“With heavy hearts, the leadership of the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) refers to the broad daylight kidnapping at the Vegetable Market on 14 June 2026, where a woman was forcefully abducted after the perpetrators failed to take the husband.”

“The pertinent question now is, what does Governor Monday Okpebholo have to show for the close to N1 billion he receives every month as a security vote?”

“Instead of putting the huge sum of money to work to secure the state, he is busy campaigning for 2.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu.”

“He is doing nothing to protect the lives and properties of the citizens. To worsen the situation, operatives of the so‑called Edo State Security Corps, which we are made to believe are paid with taxpayers’ money and are supposed to be patrolling major cities, are busy extorting money from motorists at checkpoints.”

“Most embarrassing is the fact that the hoodlums operated unchallenged for close to 30 minutes at a distance of less than 500 metres from the Government House, and about 50 metres from the Aideyan police division.”

“Fear and apprehension have now taken over the entire state, as kidnappers, cultists and armed bandits have ravaged the three senatorial districts, including Esanland, the ancestral home of Governor Okpebholo,” he said.

The CRPP said it had repeatedly suggested several steps to the government on how best to reduce the advancing marauders and terrorists in Edo state.

While alleging that the government never listened to the suggestions, the group called on the Governor to wake up from his slumber and take proactive steps to check the rising insecurity across the state.

“For the umpteenth time, we call on Governor Okpebholo to wake up from his slumber, take proactive steps to check the rising insecurity across the state.”

Speaking on the kidnapping incident, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Patrick Ebojele, said the Edo State Police Command had commenced an investigation in line with the Governor’s directive to security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended.

Ebojele, who said the incident was receiving urgent attention, added that security operatives were working tirelessly to track down those behind the crime.

“The Governor gave a clear directive, and the Police Command is acting on it. We want the family and members of the public to know that this matter is being treated with urgency. The perpetrators will be identified and brought to justice.”

“When Governor Okpebholo came into office, the security situation in Edo State was a major concern. Since then, he has invested heavily in personnel, equipment and intelligence infrastructure. The improvement is evident.”

“We are not where we were, and we will continue working until our people are fully protected,” he stated.