Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has raised serious concern over the growing threat of kidnapping in the state, describing it as an existential challenge that continues to demand the full attention of his administration.
The governor stated this on Tuesday while condoling with the family of the late Dr. Abu Momoh Tahir, a young medical doctor who was abducted and later killed by kidnappers in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.
Governor Okpebholo described the incident as unfortunate, painful and deeply regrettable, noting that the tragic killing does not in any way weaken the government’s resolve to sustain and intensify the fight against kidnapping and other criminal activities across Edo State.
According to him, the government’s ongoing security investments and interventions have helped to prevent the situation from becoming far worse than it currently is.
“The incident of the doctor’s kidnap was quite unfortunate, painful and regrettable, as it tended to cast a slur on our spirited efforts at addressing this challenge,” the governor said.
He expressed deep sympathy with the bereaved family, adding that the government was pained by the development, especially at a time when it believed the state was gradually moving into a safer security corridor.
“We condole the family of Dr. Abu Momoh Tahir over this avoidable death. We feel deeply pained as a government that kidnappers claimed his life at a time we thought we had made significant progress in our security engagement,” Okpebholo stated.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to making Edo State hostile to criminal elements, while calling on residents to remain vigilant and proactive in reporting suspicious movements within their communities.
“We will continue to improve on our efforts to make Edo non-habitable for crimes and criminalities. If anyone observes strange movements around their vicinity, such information should be promptly reported to law enforcement agencies,” he added.
Okpebholo further noted that his administration has remained relentless in addressing security challenges, stressing that the peaceful and largely crime-free yuletide celebration across the state reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring safety for all residents.
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