As part of measures to check insecurity, Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo, has vowed to sign the death warrant of any suspected kidnapper convicted by a competent court in the state.
DAILY POST reports that Okpebholo had a few months ago assented to the amended Kidnapping Prohibition Bill, 2013, passed by the State House of Assembly.
The law imposes the death penalty, specifically by hanging, on any suspected kidnapper found guilty and convicted by the court.
Okpebholo made the vow at a stakeholders’ session at the Uromi Town Hall, where he held an interactive session with leaders and members of the Arewa community in Esan land.
“The bill prescribes the death penalty for kidnappers and mandates the confiscation and demolition of properties used in the commission of their crimes.
“My administration will not tolerate insecurity, killing, and kidnapping anymore in the state as we will deal ruthlessly with all criminal elements in the state.
“I take the issue of insecurity seriously and will not bend the rules but apply them strictly. The new law in the state permits us to demolish their properties and confiscate their lands. We will build vigilante team offices on those lands.
“We will bring kidnappers to the public and execute them to show our seriousness according to the laws already passed by the Edo House of Assembly. I will not be afraid to sign it,” he said.
The governor called on stakeholders to collaborate with his administration to secure the state, noting that security is the business of all and not for security agencies alone.
“The kind of security we want to have in the state is one where security personnel are being paid salaries, unlike before when the people just put on uniforms without being paid.
“We are going to employ vigilante teams and pay them salaries and stop people from just putting on their uniforms.
“The vigilante will work with security agencies and they will be trained on how to fight crimes and handle criminals. I will not wait until campaign time to solve your problems. I will start to address the problems facing our people in the market, and everywhere.
“It is time to start profiling people from other states who claim to be from the North and ensure they don’t spoil your name. We will fence the market, put up streetlights, and build abattoirs for those killing cows. We want to secure the people of Edo State,” he added.
In his remarks, Alhaji Bawa Umar, chairman of the Arewa community in Edo Central, thanked the governor and the Onojie of Uromi for the peace that has been restored.
Umar noted that the governor is doing well in terms of security in the state, assuring that the Arewa community will support his administration to ensure it succeeds.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Uromi Cattle Market, Alhaji Isah Muhammad, thanked the governor for the way he handled the Uromi incident, which he said helped to bring down the tension in the area.
On his part, Gen. Cecil Esekhaigbe (rtd) appealed to the Arewa community to ensure they have a database for all their members.
Esekhaigbe also urged the leaders of Arewa community and cattle dealers in the Edo Central Senatorial District to advise their members and monitor them to ensure that they are not into criminal activities.
Edo: Okpebholo vows to sign death warrants of convicted kidnappers
