Edo State is fast becoming Nigeria’s kidnapping capital. Almost every day, commuters are attacked, abducted, and dragged into the forests, while the government appears overwhelmed and residents are left to travel with fear in their hearts. The state’s porous security architecture has now become a nightmare for the people.
The roads are terrible, insecurity is at an all-time high, and the state government seems lost on how to respond. The question on everyone’s lips is simple: what exactly is the government’s policy on security?
What Edo needs is not cosmetic gestures like distributing motorcycles to locals. The solution lies in drawing up a real security strategy—one that involves reputable security experts working with the Police, DSS, Army, local vigilante groups, and the communities themselves. Deploying drones, reviving the abandoned CCTV monitoring system, and sending security operatives into the forests would go a long way to flush out kidnappers and restore confidence on Edo roads.
The Okpebholo-led government must rise above petty politics and focus on genuine governance. Edo is lagging behind in virtually every sector—security, education, health, infrastructure, and the economy. The obsession with political games is putting the people at greater risk while governance suffers.
Being a governor is not about parading oneself in office—it is about taking responsibility, showing tact, and providing quality leadership. Elections are long over. Now is the time for Governor Okpebholo to act, protect Edo people, and save them from the daily torment of kidnappers who continue to terrorize the roads.
