Friday, February 21, 2025 - Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo announced on Thursday that over 3,500 illegal firearms have been recovered in the state within the last 100 days.
Governor Okpebholo disclosed this during an event marking his first 100
days in office as the elected governor of the state.
He stated that the illegal firearms were recovered from personnel of the
defunct Edo State Security Network, ESSN, under the administration of former
Governor Godwin Obaseki.
While emphasising that the security of lives and property in the state
is non-negotiable, he noted that the reconstitution of the Edo State Security
Corps, ESSC was a bold step in his administration’s commitment to fighting
crime.
He explained that these decisive actions necessitated amendments to the
anti-cultism and kidnapping laws, introducing stiffer penalties.
According to him, these stricter measures have led to a significant
reduction in cult-related violence.
The governor also revealed that his administration has procured 75
Toyota Hilux vehicles and 350 motorcycles to enhance mobility and rapid
response for security agencies.
He said: “For my administration, security is not negotiable. We took
bold steps by amending the anti-cultism and kidnapping laws with stiffer
penalties, which have led to a significant reduction in cult-related violence.
“We reorganised the Edo State Security Corps, recovered over 3,500
illegal firearms, and procured 75 Toyota Hilux vehicles and 350 motorbikes to
match the criminals, in line with our promise to smoke them out.”
DAILY POST reports that Governor Okpebholo was sworn into office on 12
November 2024, after being declared the winner of the 21 September 2024
governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Okpebholo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, defeated
his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as well
as 15 other governorship candidates in the election.
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