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A few days later, about three residents of Okpekpe community in Etsako East Local Government Area, including Batemue Philip Ebo and Christopher Bello, were brutally killed by suspected herders.
*Executive Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo
PEGASUS REPORTERS, LAGOS | MARCH 29, 2025
Indirectly, the numerous victims of the rising insecurity in Edo State over the past few months, from the mindless killings, kidnappings, and violent attacks, are casualties of Senator Monday Okpebholo’s failure and incompetence in government, because as the Chief Security Officer of the State, his primary responsibility is to protect the lives and property of the people.
Since assuming office on November 12, 2024, Okpebholo’s continuous failure in effectively handling and carrying out his first responsibility of guaranteeing the safety of the people, is what has led to the litany of deaths recorded across various communities in the State, from Edo North, Edo South, and Edo Central Senatorial Districts.
In these past three weeks alone, at least 50 persons have reportedly died from the mindless killings and brutal attacks by herders and other criminal gangs, with properties worth millions of naira destroyed, while the supposed Chief Security Officer of the State junkets from one State to another, with no clue or idea on how to tackle the worsening insecurity that has besieged the State and its people.
The devastating attack on seven farming communities in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of the State, about two weeks ago reportedly claimed 24 lives, with several others injured, while buildings and farm produce worth millions of naira were destroyed.
A few days later, about three residents of Okpekpe community in Etsako East Local Government Area, including Batemue Philip Ebo and Christopher Bello, were brutally killed by suspected herders.
In Edo Central, the blood bath has continued with at least 10 persons killed in various communities from Uromi, in Esan North East, to Ubiajia in Esan South East and Igueben, among others.
In Ekpoma precisely, an 18-year-old boy, identified as Chinedu Abimbor, also met his untimely death when he was shot dead by police officers in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of the State.
Also, the activities of nonstate actors and other thugs employed by Okpebholo under the State Public Safety Response Team (PSRT), among others have continued to wreak their own havoc, claiming the life of a two-year-old girl who was crushed to death by a commercial driver who had a clash the government-backed thugs, while driving at the Ring Road, Benin.
As part of the tragic deaths that have characterized Okpebholo’s government, a communication mast collapsed during the jamboree to mark his 100 days in office, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, resulting in the death of a middle-aged man. It has all been chaos, brigandage, and mindless deaths since Okpebholo assumed office as Edo’s helmsman.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families of the numerous innocent Edo people whose lives have been needlessly cut short due to the governor’s ineptitude and inability to secure the State.
Despite these devastating failures, which have transformed the State, once known under the previous government of Godwin Obaseki as one of Nigeria’s safest places to live and do business, into a killing field, Okpebholo has never deemed it necessary to visit the families of the victims or the affected communities where these dastardly killings took place. He has done absolutely nothing, not even as little as making a public statement himself.
It is therefore understandable why one can easily conclude that he is dancing on the graves of the numerous victims of his insecurity in Edo State.
*Bobby Obayuwana
Apart from the empty, Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated press releases issued intermittently by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, there has not been a single executive acknowledgement or effort to reach out to the victims and communities suffering from the security crisis, including the mindless killings and kidnappings that people now face daily as a result of his incompetence and inability to live up to his responsibility as the Chief Security Officer of Edo State.
Very recently, Fr. Philip Ekweli and 21-year-old major seminarian Andrew Peter, who was later killed by his abductors, were kidnapped in Etsako East LGA of the state. Catholic bishops raised concerns, and the Catholic community in Edo State and across Nigeria was thrown into despair. Yet again, Okpebholo failed to visit or show any concern whatsoever.
Through these insensitive and reckless actions, is it not clear that Okpebholo has no respect, no regard, and no interest in the welfare, security, and well-being of the people of the State?
We urge him to put his act together, take responsibility, and stop the blame game. He must stop dancing on the graves of the numerous victims of insecurity in Edo State, a crisis caused by his failure as the State’s Chief Security Officer and take decisive steps to protect the lives and property of Edo citizens, which his primary responsibility.
*Obayuwana, a concerned Edo citizen and social commentator, writes from Benin City
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