The administration of Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has expressed sadness over the recent abduction and killing of Dr Abu Momoh Tahir, who is currently on his housemanship at Edo State Teaching Hospital, Auchi.
Naijaonpoint reports that Okpebholo, in a statement through his Chief Press Secretary, Ebojele Akhere Patrick, described the incident as unfortunate, painful and deeply regrettable, assuring the public that the incident does not diminish the resolve of the state to sustain and intensify its fight against kidnapping and other crimes.
The government also stated that the incident was orchestrated to cast a slur on Okpebholo’s spirited efforts at addressing security challenges in the state.
While condoling with the deceased’s family, Okpehbolo’s government assured the public that those responsible for the dastardly act would be brought to justice and made to face the full wrath of the law.
The statement added, “The government notes that the existential threat of kidnapping has become a worrisome issue that has taken more than a devoted attention of government. But for our intervention and the quality of what we have invested in curbing kidnapping, the spate would have been more alarming than what we presently have.
“The Okpebholo-led administration has been relentless in providing solutions to several security challenges; the peaceful and crime-free yuletide celebration is an indication of our commitment to making Edo state safe for all.
“Before the yuletide season, men of the Operation Rescue carried out a holistic bush combing exercise across Auchi, Agenebode, Okpella, Fugar and Owan areas to expose kidnappers’ den. The exercise was not only successful, the number of persons arrested and being prosecuted presently underscored the extent of the exercise. The Operation Rescue team were able to destroy quite a number of hide-outs of these kidnappers aside from the arrest. Some were also killed in the cause of fire power exchanges in the forests. This is to make the point that the government is not resting on its oars, and the initial perennial incidences of kidnapping have been decimated to its lowest ebb. Our deliberate effort to nip the issue in the bud has yielded a lot of successes and we are determined to make Edo safe for all.
“What we expect from members of the Edo public is a show of solidarity and cooperation particularly in the area of intelligence sharing with men of the Operation Rescue and other security agencies. Security concerns are a function of both the government and the people they govern. It is a collective indulgence that should not be left in the hands of the government alone. We feel pained as a government that the kidnappers claimed the life of Dr. Abu Momoh Tahir at a time we thought we had gotten to the safer corridor of our security engagement. We will continue to improve on our effort to make Edo non-habitable for crimes and criminalities as we call on all to be vigilant around their environment at all times. If anyone observes strange movements around their vicinity, appropriate report should be given to the law enforcement agents without delay.”