The Edo State government has demonstrated its commitment to tackling kidnapping through security measures and institutional reforms, following the maiden judgment of the Special Criminal Court for kidnapping and cultism cases. The court sentenced four persons to death for kidnapping a woman at Vegetable Market, Airport Road, Benin City. This development shows that the government's anti-kidnapping measures are moving beyond pronouncements to enforcement and prosecution.
The Director of Media of the Edo APC 2027 Campaign Council, Mr John Mayaki, hailed the judgment, stating that Edo State is no longer a safe haven for kidnappers. He said Governor Monday Okpebholo had demonstrated that his administration was serious about tackling kidnapping. Mayaki noted that the governor understands that fighting kidnapping cannot end with the arrest of suspects, but must be followed by proper investigation, prosecution, and determination of cases by the courts.
The Special Criminal Court was established to handle kidnapping and cultism cases in the state, providing an institutional mechanism for cases to be handled expeditiously. Mayaki said Okpebholo had earlier pushed for the establishment of the special court as part of measures to strengthen the state's response to kidnapping and other violent crimes. The court was subsequently constituted by the state judiciary and began sitting to hear cases assigned to it.
Mayaki stressed that the conviction and sentences were decisions of the independent judiciary, which had done its constitutional duty by considering the evidence before it and reaching its judgment according to law. He noted that the government's role is to provide the enabling legal and institutional environment for security agencies to investigate crimes and for suspects to be prosecuted without unnecessary delay.
The significance of the judgment is that suspected kidnappers arrested by security agencies can be made to face justice through a dedicated judicial process. Mayaki said Governor Okpebholo had repeatedly made it clear that kidnapping, cultism, and other violent crimes will not be treated with kid gloves. The criminals must understand that Edo has changed, with a system designed to ensure that their cases are diligently prosecuted and determined according to law.
Mayaki urged security agencies and residents to sustain intelligence sharing and cooperation in the fight against kidnapping. He said the administration would continue to support measures aimed at protecting lives and property across the state. The ultimate objective is to make Edo increasingly unsafe for kidnappers and safer for farmers, traders, investors, travelers, and families.
Key points
- Four persons were sentenced to death for kidnapping a woman at Vegetable Market, Airport Road, Benin City.
- The Special Criminal Court was established to handle kidnapping and cultism cases in the state.
- The Edo State government has demonstrated its commitment to tackling kidnapping through security measures and institutional reforms.
