As reactions continue to trail the anti-kidnapping protest, arrest, arraignment and remand of 52 suspects, mostly students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has urged Governor Monday Okpebholo to prioritise the security of lives and property in the state.
DAILY POST reports that the National Chairman of the body, Dr Samson Isibor, made the call in a communiqué made available to journalists after the body’s first meeting of 2026, held on Tuesday in Benin City. He, however, opined that Edo people are not concerned about the number of vehicles and motorcycles purchased for security agencies.
“Edo people are not bothered about how many pickup vehicles and motorcycles are purchased for the security agencies. All we want is to be able to sleep with our two eyes closed.
“That should be the priority of the government—to ensure the security and welfare of the people.
“We are not even talking about the poverty ravaging our people. Most importantly, help us drive away all these killers and ransom-collecting terrorists,” he said.
Isibor condemned the alleged hijacking of the peaceful protest by hoodlums who reportedly turned it violent, leading to the destruction of property belonging to innocent citizens, particularly the Enogie of Ekpoma Palace.
He, however, called for the immediate release of the students remanded in the Nigeria Correctional Service, whom he alleged were arrested in their various hostels by security agencies.
While also condemning the mishandling of the protest by the government, he blamed Governor Monday Okpebholo for not being proactive in addressing the long-standing cries of Edo citizens over the takeover of their bushes, farms and highways by terrorists, bandits and killer herdsmen.
According to him, these criminals now have the temerity to enter towns and villages to kidnap people from house to house. He described the situation as horrendous, noting that Edo is a state with a sitting governor.
“It is also laughable that the governor is junketing in a helicopter across troubled areas—doing what? Wasting our meagre resources to pay for the hiring of helicopters. Is he going to arrest the marauders by himself? This is a question that must be answered,” he queried.
The CRPP national chairman noted that the body had repeatedly advised the government on the need to set up a security outfit similar to the Amotekun Security Network in the South-West zone.
He alleged that the governor never heeded the advice, adding that personnel of the so-called Edo State Security Corps (ESSC) set up by the government were neither paid salaries nor properly equipped for the risky job they were expected to do.
He further alleged that ESSC personnel were not on the state government payroll, wondering how they could perform optimally without remuneration.
“How can the government employ people for security work without paying them or including their names on the government payroll?” he asked.
He, however, urged the government to place them on a special payroll with a monthly salary ranging from N100,000 to N200,000.
He also advised the government to provide life insurance for them, noting that such measures would motivate them to confront deadly terrorists effectively.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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