The Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, has issued a strong warning over the issue of kidnapping while speaking at the police headquarters in the state. The remarks came at an event where the police paraded some suspected kidnappers who had been arrested over the weekend.
Addressing the matter, the governor sounded a warning note to those who may think that they can see Edo State as a viable state for kidnapping. He stressed that the state was going to smoke them out, signalling a tougher posture against the crime within the state.
Okpebholo went further to say that he would not hesitate to sign the death warrant in relation to the offence. The statement underlined the governor's stated determination to deal decisively with those involved in kidnapping in Edo State.
In line with that position, the governor was said to have written to the Edo State Chief Judge to that effect. The move was presented as a formal step to communicate his stance to the head of the state judiciary as part of the response to the crime.
The governor also spoke about the setting up of special courts to speedily try kidnappers. The idea behind the proposed courts is to fast-track the prosecution of such cases, rather than allowing them to drag on through the regular court process.
Okpebholo tied the measures to the political will that has long been sought in tackling insecurity. He presented the steps, from the warning to the proposed special courts, as a demonstration of that resolve in confronting kidnapping in Edo State.