Edo Residents Now Recruit Criminals From Other States for Kidnapping, Robbery – Governor Okpebholo Alleges

• Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has alleged that some residents recruit criminals from other states and bring them into Edo to carry out kidnappings, armed robberies, and other crimes.
• He made the claim during the 2026 CAN Ministers’ Conference in Benin City.
• The governor also argued that some reports of insecurity circulating online are exaggerated or false, adding that such reports sometimes undermine government efforts.

Governor Monday Okpebholo has alleged that some residents of Edo State now travel to other parts of Nigeria to recruit criminals who are later used for kidnapping, armed robbery, and other criminal activities within the state.

The governor made the claim while speaking at the 2026 Ministers’ Conference organised by the Edo State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Benin City, where issues relating to insecurity and public safety were discussed.

According to Okpebholo, security challenges remain a concern, but he argued that some reports circulating on social media are either false or exaggerated, creating unnecessary panic among residents.

The governor recalled a recent incident along Sapele Road, explaining that he immediately directed security operatives to respond after receiving reports of an attack, only for investigations to reveal that the information was false.

He maintained that while insecurity exists, false alarms have become an additional challenge and are sometimes deployed to tarnish the image of his administration.

“Some reports on insecurity are just to bring this government down, to give this government a bad name but it’s not that there is no insecurity, the false alarms are another issue in this country,” he said.

Okpebholo also warned against defending individuals arrested for criminal activities, arguing that unexplained wealth among some young people should attract scrutiny.

“Tomorrow you will see them driving expensive cars, building houses, how are they getting these things, they will tell you they are Yahoo Boys. They are these, they are that, if you hear that we have arrested somebody, don’t come to beg me.”

The governor further disclosed that volunteers have been deployed to forests across the state as part of efforts to prevent criminals from establishing hideouts and operating bases within Edo communities.