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Former Edo State Governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, on Saturday endorsed Governor Monday Okpebholo’s proposed execution of convicted kidnappers and cultists, saying only tough sanctions would discourage criminals and help stem the rising wave of violent crime in Edo State.
Speaking before a crowd of enthusiastic supporters at a political rally in Benin City, the Edo State capital, Oshiomhole declared that executing convicted kidnappers would send a strong warning to criminal gangs and deter others from venturing into the crime.
“It will keep those who want to go into kidnapping in check,” he declared to loud cheers from the crowd.
Oshiomhole said the escalating threat of kidnapping and cult-related violence requires firm and decisive action, insisting that the safety of law-abiding citizens must take precedence over the interests of criminals.
His position aligns with Governor Okpebholo’s recent resolve to intensify the fight against violent crime through legal and institutional measures.
The governor has announced plans to establish a special court to expedite the prosecution of suspected kidnappers and cultists, saying convicted offenders would face the maximum punishment prescribed by law.
Speaking earlier after the parade of suspected kidnappers at the Edo State Police Command headquarters in Benin City, Okpebholo warned that his administration would not relent until criminal gangs were dismantled, declaring: “We are going to set up a special court to try kidnappers and cultists. Within two to three weeks, we will be done with it. I will sign your execution.”
Okpebholo said his administration would continue working closely with security agencies to flush out kidnappers, cultists, and other criminal elements from Edo State, assuring residents that there would be no safe haven for those who threaten lives and property.
The governor’s tough rhetoric has been widely welcomed by many residents of Edo State and other Nigerians who have long demanded stronger measures against kidnapping and violent crime.
However, many observers say the real test will be whether the governor follows through on his promise if and when the courts hand down death sentences.
The debate is not new. For years, stakeholders in Nigeria’s criminal justice system have expressed concern over the growing number of condemned inmates awaiting execution in correctional centres across the country.
Although many have exhausted all avenues of appeal, including at the Supreme Court, execution warrants are never signed by state governors, who are constitutionally empowered to authorize them.
The reluctance of governors to sign execution warrants has continued to generate nationwide debate.
While some attribute the hesitation to the global shift away from capital punishment and concerns over human rights, others argue that persons lawfully convicted of heinous crimes that resulted in the deaths of innocent victims should face the punishment prescribed by law.
It is also being said that the governors s not want any blood on their hands.
Beyond the reluctance of governors, investigations have shown that execution facilities in many states have become moribund.
Legal experts also point to another challenge: where a condemned inmate is transferred to another state for execution because the original state’s facility is non-functional, the governor of the receiving state would be required to sign the execution warrant, a responsibility governors have generally been unwilling to assume.
Oshiomhole remains the only governor in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic to have signed the execution warrant of a condemned inmate.
During his tenure as governor of Edo State, he authorized the execution of a convicted armed robber, distinguishing him from other governors who, despite being constitutionally empowered to sign death warrants after all appeals have been exhausted, have consistently declined to do so.
With Oshiomhole now publicly backing Okpebholo’s hardline stance, attention has shifted to whether the Edo governor will match his words with action.
The Edo State House of Assembly is expected to provide the necessary legal framework for the proposed special court, while Nigerians will be watching closely to see whether the administration follows through on its promise to implement the law once due judicial processes have been concluded.
As Edo continues to grapple with worsening insecurity, many residents believe every lawful measure capable of deterring violent criminals deserves serious consideration.
Whether Governor Okpebholo’s bold declaration translates into concrete action now remains one of the most closely watched issues in the state’s fight against kidnapping and cultism.
