Benin: Edo Government says it will soon curtail the menace of cultism and kidnapping by coming out with more stringent measures.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, made this declaration during a press conference on Monday in Benin.
Afegbua stated that the state government would deal decisively with anyone caught, regardless of their social status.
According to him, the government will not be deterred in its efforts to eliminate social vices, even if it means taking bold actions against individuals or groups.
He emphasised that the Monday Okpebholo-led government had the political will to confront the challenges facing the state and ensure the safety and security of its citizens.
“We will continue to step on the toes of those who felt they owned the state and displayed all kinds of conduct to enrich themselves at the expense of our common patrimony,” Afegbua stated.
The commissioner said the government had deployed 100 police officers to Okpella to combat kidnapping and provided 400 motorcycles to security agencies to enhance their mobility.
He also noted that the government had commenced the process of recruiting and training 2,500 men and women into the Edo Security Corps.
Afegbua urged citizens to support the government’s efforts by providing intelligence and other ancillary information that would help to nip these vices in the bud.
He also called on the media to report responsibly and avoid sensationalising incidents of kidnapping, which could inadvertently aid the perpetrators.
The government had also commenced a review of legacy projects, including the Edo Radisson Hotel and the Museum of West African Arts, to ensure that they were awarded correctly and beneficial to the state.
He stated that the state government had initiated an investigation into the manner in which the projects were executed and the potential losses incurred by the state.