The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), in Edo State, has affirmed that the state government under the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebholo, has lost control of the security situation in the state.
In a press statement made by the party via Chris Nehikhare, the Publicity Secretary of its Caretaker Committee, the PDP said: “The Edo State PDP is deeply alarmed by the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the state, which has now culminated in the gruesome killing of innocent travelers in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area.
“The recent government classification of the perpetrators as an illegal vigilante group only further exposes the absence of a coherent security framework under the current administration and a continuation of the blame game this government has come to master.
“The suspension of the Commander of the Edo State Security Corps, CP Friday Ibadin (Rtd), is a clear admission by the government that the security architecture of the state has failed. The February 5 mutiny by members of the Edo Security Corps was an early warning sign of deep-rooted inefficiencies, yet Senator Monday Okpebholo chose to ignore it. Now, Edo people are paying the price with their lives.”
Going further, the PDP averred: “It is particularly distressing that a vigilante group, operating without any oversight or proper registration, was allowed to take up arms and engage in extra-judicial killings. This is an indictment of the Okpebholo administration’s failure to properly regulate, train, and coordinate security efforts in the state.”
The PDP demanded that urgent measures should be taken to restore security and prevent further loss of lives: “comprehensive audit and overhaul of the Edo State Security Corps: The security structure must be reviewed to eliminate unregistered groups and ensure accountability in operations and immediate arrest and prosecution of all perpetrators: The government must ensure that all those responsible for the Uromi killings, including their sponsors, face the full weight of the law.”
Other measures the PDP adviced to be put in place include, “deployment of federal security agencies: Given the state government’s apparent inability to maintain law and order, federal intervention is now necessary to stabilize the situation and implementation of a new security strategy: The PDP calls for a non-partisan security summit involving all stakeholders—traditional rulers, community leaders, security agencies, and opposition parties—to map out an effective security blueprint for the state.”
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