The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has decried the rising incidents of homicide in the state, noting that the government, in partnership with security agencies, has set up a committee to check cases of homicide in Edo.
Obaseki said this while briefing journalists after the monthly Security Council meeting held at the Government House, Benin City.
The governor said the Security Council also mandated the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to work with the state government to raid spots where drugs are being sold across Benin City and other areas in the State.
He said, “In a couple of days, efforts will be intensified and raids carried out in spots where hard drugs are being sold.”
According to him, “The Edo State Security Council meeting just concluded its monthly meeting for March where we witnessed a lot of electioneering activities and we are happy to report that in terms of incidents, we saw a very rapid decline in incidents from over 100 cases in January to about 40 cases in February and a marginal increase in March. We are glad that despite the elections, the security situation in Edo remained stable.
“We are concerned about the incident of homicide in the State. This year alone, 51 people have been killed and interrogation shows that the deaths are related to transactions connected to land issues. Drugs also contribute to the rise of homicide incidents in the state.”
Obaseki added, “The Security Council is very concerned about homicide cases and has set up a Committee of Council to look into details of cases of homicide incidents witnessed in the State in the recent past. The Committee will report back to the Council having investigated and reopened the cases of homicide. It should also ensure it goes after the groups and people involved as it relates to homicide cases.”
Decrying the poor state of federal roads in Edo, Obaseki said, “The Council also reviewed the transportation sector and is worried that the State may be cut out from other parts of the Country if nothing urgent is done.”
He further noted, “The Edo State Government has continued to insist that trucks and heavy-duty vehicles that ought to ply federal roads shouldn’t use the intra-state roads as they are not built for such size of trucks. Sapele Road is almost becoming impassable and might become worse when the rain sets in properly. The federal authorities should do something urgently to enable passengers across Edo State to get to other parts of the country, particularly the Northern and Southern parts.
“Auchi Road and parts of the Benin-Lagos Road are worse and almost impassable now as it will be a sorry tale when the rain sets in properly in June and July. The Council resolved to send a very urgent message to the federal authorities to begin to repair the bad section of the roads.”
On his part, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Dankwara Muhammad, said the police is still on the trail of the killers of police officers in Igarra, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the State as one of the suspects has been killed while the others are helping the police with relevant information that will lead to the arrest of other members of the gang.
He also reassured the police readiness for the Edo State House of Assembly elections in Egor and Oredo constituencies which were declared inconclusive by INEC.
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