Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has advocated a special court to try Kidnappers and cultists in the state.
The governor disclosed this during the parade of some kidnappers and cultists arrested by the Edo Police Command in Benin on Thursday.
Okpebholo said there was a need for special courts to fast track trials of criminals so that cases would not go forever.
According to him, once courts have done their bit he was ready to sign the death warrant with immediate effect.
Addressing suspected kidnappers, Okpebholo said: “Now we are going to set up a special court to try kidnappers and cultists, within two or three weeks we are done with it and I will sign your warrant for execution or hanging.
“I will take you to the roundabout, that is a ring road, so that the whole people will see you. And this I will not have any regrets about it. So please don’t take my simplicity for granted, thank you very much,” the governor said.
He warned criminals not to settle in Edo, adding: “Whoever has such mind to kidnap, let me tell you, you cannot do it and go free. No crime that will be committed in Edo State, that such person will not be arrested. Whoever is supporting you or aiding you to do it please you have to stop because we are ready for you. We are not joking, we are not sleeping day and night. We are working to make sure that this land is safe.”
He appealed to youth to stay away from cultism and kidnapping because it would take them nowhere.
“It is cheaper for you to maintain your standard than to go into kidnapping because when you kidnap what you have before, you will lose it, at the same time you will lose your life,” he said.
Among those paraded included a 45-year-Oluchi Ugbowan, who conspired with her accomplices to stage her own abduction to extort N50 million from her family.
Explaining how Oluchi was arrested, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, said a technical intelligence led to the arrest of one Israel Ability, who confessed to making ransom calls on her instructions.
The purported victim was subsequently traced and arrested in a hotel in Obiaruku, Delta State, where she confessed to the crime.
He added: “Further investigation led to the recovery of a pump-action gun used in videos created by one Chukwudem Uwadia, from Kwale, Delta State and his son, Chibuzor Chukwudem.”
Also paraded were kidnappers of a woman at the Vegetable Market, on June 14, along Airport Road, Benin City, who the Commissioner said were arrested through intelligence led operation.
Chuks Okocha, Emmanuel Addeh, Adedayo Akinwale, Hammed Shittu, Wale Igbintade, Sunday Ehigiator and Felix Omoh-Asun
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