Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has issued a blunt warning to criminals operating in the state, declaring that those who persist in crime will face swift prosecution and that he will personally sign their execution warrants. Speaking on Thursday during a parade of suspects at the Edo State Police Command headquarters in Benin City—where he also rewarded officers who arrested a suspect linked to Sunday’s kidnapping at the Vegetable Market—the governor announced plans to establish a special court to try kidnappers and cultists within a two-week timeline, adding that executions would be carried out publicly at the Ring Road roundabout so that Edo people can watch. Governor Okpebholo revealed that following the Sunday incident, one suspect was arrested, one neutralized, and two remain at large, warning criminals and their sponsors that they will never find peace in Edo State. Defending the federal government’s handling of security, Okpebholo praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for effectively funding security operatives and dismissed ongoing security complaints as politically motivated exaggerations aimed at bringing his government down. Additionally, speaking on Wednesday at the 2026 Ministers’ Conference organized by the Edo State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the governor exposed a dangerous trend where locals recruit external criminals to handle kidnappings in the bush before returning to flaunt wealth disguised as cybercriminals or “Yahoo Boys.” Okpebholo strictly urged religious leaders never to intercede or beg for anyone arrested for criminal activities, while reassuring residents that security teams are working round the clock to keep the state safe. The governor further requested special prayers for President Tinubu, asserting that the painful removal of the fuel subsidy is responsible for the visible infrastructural development now taking place across Edo State, as clergymen present praised his public service commitment and commended the ongoing rehabilitation of the Benin-Sapele Road.
