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BENIN – Senator Joseph Ikpea has hailed Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo over his proposal to give suspected kidnappers arrested in the state speedy trials.
According to the senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, the proposal by Governor Monday Okpebholo to seek speedy trial of kidnappers and cultists in the state with the aim of making their punishment prompt is welcome development.
Senator Ikpea who stated this in a statement issued in his Ewatto country home in Esan South East Local Government Area and made available to journalists, also commended Governor Okpebholo for the Wednesday smashing of kidnap syndicates operating in parts of the state.
“I particularly commended the Governor for the rescue of the woman kidnap in the popular Benin elite market, the Vegetable Market, on Sunday and the arrest of a member of the gang.
The Edo State Police Command with Governor Okpebholo, had on Thursday paraded suspected kidnappers including one of those that participated in the Vegetable Market incident, where the governor said he would soon facilitate the setting up of a special court that would spend two weeks in the trial of suspected kidnappers and cultists.
The governor also promised to sign their death warrants and ensure their public execution at the Ring Road roundabout in Benin City, the state capital.
The governor, had, in appreciation of the dexterity displayed by the police in arresting the kidnappers involved in the Vegetable Market incident, announced a financial reward of N10 million to the police.
Reacting to the development, Senator Ikpea commended the support Governor Okpebholo is giving to security agencies for optimum check on insecurity in the state and the efforts the security agencies are putting in to ensure a safe state.
“Governor Okpebholo’s prompt directive to the Edo police command to fish out the perpetrators of the Vegetable Market kidnap incident, immediately after the Sunday incident in Benin City and the response of the police and other security agencies that led to the rescue of the kidnapped woman and the arrest of a member of the gang is highly commendable.”
The senator added that the prompt action of the governor “is a clear signal to criminal elements around the state that nowhere is safe for them and a huge confidence booster for the citizens of the state that they are safe.
“As the senator representing Edo Central, I reaffirm my support and determination to collaborate with the state government in ensuring that Edo Central is safe.
“I am also committed to working with my fellow senators in the other senatorial districts to collaborate with the state government to ensure security in all parts of the state,” Ikpea reassured.
While reiterating his earlier call on the indigene and residents of Edo State to make the issue of security part of the civic responsibilities, Ikpea stressed that when everyone is involved in the business of security, all the bad elements in the state will either repent or relocate as they would have realised that Edo State is no longer a safe heaven for criminals.
