Okpebholo Alleges Residents Recruit Criminals From Other States to Fuel Insecurity in Edo
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has alleged that some individuals within the state travel to other parts of Nigeria to recruit criminal elements who are later used to carry out kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent activities.
The governor made the claim while addressing participants at the 2026 Ministers’ Conference organised by the Edo State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Benin City, where issues bordering on security and public safety were discussed.
According to Okpebholo, insecurity remains a challenge, but he expressed concern that false and exaggerated reports circulating on social media are worsening public anxiety and, in some cases, creating a misleading picture of the situation in the state.
He recalled a recent incident along Sapele Road, explaining that security agencies were immediately mobilised after receiving a distress report, only for investigations to later reveal that the alarm was false.
The governor stated that while criminal activities should not be ignored, misinformation and panic-driven reports could complicate efforts to tackle insecurity effectively.
He also warned against defending individuals arrested for criminal offences, noting that suspicious displays of wealth among some persons should attract closer scrutiny.
Okpebholo added that his administration has intensified preventive measures, including the deployment of volunteers to forest areas to stop criminal groups from establishing operational bases within Edo State.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening security across the state and urged residents to support lawful efforts aimed at protecting lives and property.
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