Our People Now Recruit Criminals From Other States" — Governor Okpebholo Raises Alarm Over Edo Insecurity
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has raised a serious alarm regarding a dangerous shift in the state’s security landscape. Speaking at the 2026 Ministers’ Conference organized by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Benin City, the governor alleged that some local syndicates are now actively importing criminal networks from other parts of the country to execute high-profile crimes, including armed robbery and kidnapping.
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has alleged that some residents now travel to parts of Nigeria to recruit criminals who are later used for kidn@pping, armed r%bbery and other crimes in the state.
He made the allegation while speaking at the 2026 Ministers’ Conference organised by the Edo State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Benin City, where insecurity and related issues were discussed. He also said that many reports circulating on social media about insecurity are false or exaggerated.
The governor recalled a recent incident along Sapele Road, saying he immediately directed security operatives to respond after receiving a report, only for it to be confirmed as false. He added that while insecurity is real, false alarms are worsening the situation and are sometimes used to discredit his administration.
He further said: “Tomorrow you will see them driving expensive cars, building houses, how are they getting these things, they will tell you they are Yahoo Boys. They are these, they are that, if you hear that we have arrested somebody, don’t come to beg me.”
“Some reports on insecurity are just to bring this government down, to give this government a bad name but it’s not that there is no insecurity, the false alarms are another issue in this country,” he said.
Okpebholo also stated that volunteers have been positioned in forests to prevent criminals from settling in Edo State.
