Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has declared an all-out war on crime, warning that under his administration, criminals will find no refuge anywhere in the state.
Speaking during the commissioning of over 300 motorbikes at the Government House in Benin City, the Governor unveiled an ambitious security initiative aimed at reclaiming hard-to-reach areas especially forests often used as hideouts by criminals. The motorbikes will be distributed across Edo’s three senatorial districts to boost the operational reach of security agencies.
Top security and government officials attended the event, including Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika; Commander of the 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Oduyebo; and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gani Audu.
Governor Okpebholo emphasized that the era of unchecked criminal activity is over.
We promised to tackle insecurity, and today we’re keeping that promise,” he said. “These bikes will help our security forces penetrate areas vehicles can’t reach. Criminals must leave Edo State. We are not only equipping our agencies—we are maintaining and sustaining these efforts.
Commissioner of Police Agbonika described the deployment as a game-changer, particularly in combating forest-based crimes like kidnapping.
This marks a new dawn,” he said. “With these motorbikes, we now have the means to go where criminals thought they could hide. The days of operating with impunity are coming to an end.
He urged residents to support security operations by providing credible intelligence to law enforcement.
In a further show of his administration’s commitment to real change, Governor Okpebholo also commissioned a fleet of heavy-duty waste management equipment including bulldozers, tractors, and low-bed trucks to support the Edo State Waste Management Board.
The move ends a costly reliance on rented equipment, which the Governor criticized as a waste of public funds.
The previous administration spent over N50 million monthly renting equipment,” he noted. “That model is unsustainable. These machines were purchased outright with Edo people’s money for Edo people’s use.
Managing Director of the Waste Management Board, Lucky Enehita-Inegbeneh, praised the investment as a milestone in the state’s efforts to create a cleaner and healthier environment.
This strategic move gives us the tools we need to transform Edo,” he said. “It shows the Governor is not just talking he’s taking action.
With renewed energy in both the security and environmental sectors, Governor Okpebholo is setting a tone of decisive leadership and hands-on governance. His administration’s dual push for safety and sanitation signals a clear message: Edo State is under a new kind of leadership practical, focused, and unafraid to act.
