The Edo State government has warned troublemakers, plotting to destabilise the Okpella community following a recent court ruling on the traditional leadership, that it will deal decisively with anyone found breaching the peace in the community.
In a statement endorsed by the state Commissioner for Public Safety and Security, Festus Ebea, the state government said that it has credible intelligence indicating that certain unscrupulous elements, having already been cautioned, have brazenly defied its earlier directive and are now actively scheming to unleash mayhem on the community.
“The government will not watch idly while lawless individuals and groups attempt to subvert the judicial process, undermine constituted authority, or hold an entire community hostage to their reckless ambitions,” the state government said.
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It affirmed that no individual or faction possesses the right to self-appoint as enforcer of any court ruling, while the matter remains actively subject to appeal.
“The judiciary belongs to the state, and its processes will be respected and protected accordingly.
“All relevant security agencies are hereby alerted to be on code red, while law enforcement officers deployed to monitor the situation in Okpella should be active.
“Any act of self-help, forceful takeover, intimidation, harassment, or disruption of the traditional institution, by any person, faction, or group, is illegal, absolutely intolerable, and will attract immediate and decisive government response,” the statement added.
Furthermore, the government charged all law-abiding stakeholders, community leaders, and residents of Okpella to remain calm, exercise restraint, and allow the judicial process to run its full and unobstructed course.
