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 while addressing journalists on Monday in Benin.
Prince Afegbua said the state government would deal decisively with anyone caught no matter his status in the society.
According to him , the government will not be deterred in its efforts to eliminate the social vices, even if it means taken bold actions against individuals or groups.
Afegbua also emphasized 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 toes of those who felt they own the state and displayed all kinds of conducts to enrich themselves at the expense of our common patrimony,”Afegbua stated.
The commissioner said the government had deployed 100 policemen to Okpella to combat kidnapping and provided 400 motorcycles to security agencies to enhance their mobility.
He further noted that the government had commenced the process of recruiting and training 2,500 men and women into the Edo Security Corps.
Afegba 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 called on the media to report responsibly and avoid sensationalizing 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 properly awarded and beneficial to the state.
He said the state government had begun probing the manner in which the projects were executed and the potential losses to the state.
