A coalition of civil society organizations in Edo State have praised the new security architecture put in place by Governor Monday Okpebholo which led to the rescue of 16 travelers kidnapped on Friday evening.
According to a statement by the spokesperson of the group, Comrade Victor Aigbangbe, the rescue of the kidnap victims barely 24 hours after they were kidnapped could only be a testament of the robust security plans recently put in place by the state government.
The statement acknowledged the role the new motorbikes donated to security agencies played in pursuing the suspects into the forest leading to the rescue, before the abductors got to their camps.
According to the statement, “we are well aware of the kidnap of some travellers returning from Auchi to Benin, in the New Edo Line Bus, and another car on Friday Evening, and the sterling role played by security agencies led by the police in rescuing them, barely 24 hours.”
He noted that “although insecurity is a national problem, the Monday Okpebholo’s administration has demonstrated enough capacity to prevent and respond appropriately to these issues to keep Edo people safe.
“The quick response of security agencies in rescuing these victims has shown that with the right investments in security, just as the governor has done, the issue of insecurity could be tackled. In recent times, we have seen tremendous investment in mobility for our security personnel, with the recent ones being the handing over of special motor bikes for forest combings. This lastest intervention has proven to be the key in this rescue mission, giving Civil Society and Edo people the hope that security agencies now have the capacity to keep the state safe.”
The statement also praised the Commissioner of Police for keeping to his words of “a new dawn in policing the state” nothing that “the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, has shown to Edo people that they could still rely on security agencies for their safety. The CP has just proven that what was lacking was the right investment, which the Governor Monday Okpebholo has changed. Now, we urged them to go into the bushes and chase these bad elements out of the state. The Governor has given his matching orders. It is time the security agencies respond.”
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It could be recalled that the Police had announced that it’s operatives along side vigilante and hunters, rescued 16 victims from Friday’s kidnapping involving a vehicle belonging to the New Edo Line.
A statement by the PPRO Edo State Police Command, CSP Moses Yamu, assured that efforts were intensified to rescue the remaining victims and arrest the perpetrators.
The Statement explained that the New Edo Line bus was attacked alongside a Toyota Camry car while returning from Auchi to Benin between Odemwingie and Obanrenren Communities.
The statement noted that CP Monday Agbonika promptly deployed the Divisional Police Officer(DPO) Ekiadolor, tactical teams, vigilantes, and hunters who embarked on a massive bush-combing operation leading to the rescue of the 16 victims.
“The Edo State Police Command urges members of the public to remain calm, law-abiding, and to promptly report any suspicious movement or persons to the nearest Police Station.”
