The Edo State Government, led by Governor Monday Okpebholo, has ramped up its fight against kidnapping by targeting individuals suspected of aiding criminals. As part of this effort, the state’s task force has demolished another property linked to kidnapping activities.
The latest demolition occurred in Eshioriri-Erah, Owan East Local Government Area, where the home of a 70-year-old man, Mr. Karimu Audu, was brought down. Audu is accused of acting as an informant for kidnappers operating within the Owan and Esan forests, allegedly providing them with intelligence, shelter, and food.
Residents, speaking anonymously, alleged that those who opposed Audu’s activities had either mysteriously disappeared or faced violent attacks while working on their farms.
Addressing journalists at the demolition site, Mr. Akhere Paul, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Affairs, reiterated the government’s zero tolerance for collaboration with kidnappers.
“We are here because of conspiracy. He has been working with kidnappers in the forest. Let this serve as a warning—if you see something, say something. If you conspire with criminals, your day will come, just like today has come for him to face the law,” Paul stated.
Similarly, SP Michael Anetor, Commander of the Edo State Task Force, emphasized the government’s commitment to restoring peace and eradicating kidnapping.
“We are here to enforce the law. It is not my wish to see people’s properties destroyed, but we must restore peace. Kidnapping must stop. With three properties already demolished, let this be a lesson. Anyone considering aiding kidnappers should reconsider immediately,” Anetor warned.
However, Audu refuted the accusations, insisting that his interactions with herders were lawful and part of his role within the community.
“They said I give information to the ‘Fulani.’ I don’t. I am the chairman of a six-man community committee. My job is to collect annual payments and bring them to the Highness for sharing. I don’t give information to anyone; I simply do my committee work,” he claimed.
Eshioriri-Erah, a border town between Owan East and Esan West local government areas, is known for its dense forests, which connect Edo North and Edo Central Senatorial Districts-a terrain frequently exploited by criminal elements.
The Edo State Government has vowed to sustain its crackdown on kidnappers and their accomplices, warning that more properties linked to criminal activities will be demolished as part of ongoing security operations to protect residents and restore safety in the state.
