The governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has lamented the state’s increasing homicide rate and noted that a committee to investigate homicide cases in Edo has been established by the government in collaboration with security agencies.
Obaseki made this statement while briefing journalists after the monthly Security Council meeting held at the Government House in Benin City.
The governor stated that the Security Council also ordered the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to collaborate with the state government to raid locations where drugs are being marketed throughout Benin City and other areas of the State. He said, “In a couple of days, Efforts will be intensified and raids will be conducted in locations 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 pleased that the security in Edo held steady notwithstanding the elections.
“We are worried about the homicide occurrence in the State. 51 people have died this year alone, and inquiries reveal that these fatalities are connected to business dealings involving property disputes. Drug use is another factor in the state’s rising homicide rate.
Obaseki continued, “The Security Council is deeply troubled by homicide cases and has set up a Committee of Council to investigate the specifics of cases of homicide incidents witnessed in the State in recent times.
After looking into and reopening the homicide cases, the Committee will report its findings to the Council. In cases of homicide, it should also make sure to pursue the groups and individuals implicated. “The Council also reviewed the transportation sector and is concerned that the State may be cut off from other parts of the Country if nothing urgent is done,” Obaseki said in a statement denouncing the terrible condition of federal highways in Edo.
He stated, “The Edo State Government has continued to insist that trucks and heavy-duty vehicles that should travel on 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 government needs to act quickly to make it possible for people in Edo State to travel to other parts of the country, particularly the northern and southern regions.
Obaseki continued, “The Security Council is deeply troubled by homicide cases and has established a Committee of Council to investigate the specifics of cases of homicide incidents witnessed in the State in recent times. After looking into and reopening the homicide cases, the Committee will report its findings to the Council. In cases of homicide, it should also make sure to pursue the groups and individuals implicated.
“The Council also reviewed the transportation sector and is concerned that the State may be cut off from other parts of the Country if nothing urgent is done,” Obaseki said in a statement denouncing the terrible condition of federal highways in Edo.
“The Edo State Government has continued to insist that trucks and heavy-duty vehicles that should travel on federal roads shouldn’t use the intra-state roads as they are not built for such size of trucks,” he stated. When the rain really starts to fall, Sapele Road may become even more difficult to travel on. The federal government needs to act quickly to make it possible for people in Edo State to travel to other areas of the nation, particularly the northern and southern regions.
“Auchi Road and other sections of the Benin-Lagos Road are worse and nearly impassable right now, and things won’t get any better when the rain really starts falling in June and July. The Council decided to urge the federal government in a very urgent communication to begin to repair the bad section of the roads.”
According to CP Dankwara Muhammad, the commissioner of police for Edo State, the police are still looking for the people responsible for the murder of police officers in Igarra, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the State, as one of the suspect was killed and the others are providing useful information that will assist the police to identify and apprehend other gang members.
He also expressed confidence in the police’s ability and readiness for the Edo State House of Assembly elections in the Egor and Oredo constituencies which were declared inconclusive by INEC.