The Edo State Government has intensified security operations across major highways and communities following threats of bandit attacks.
Governor Monday Okpebholo issued the directive, emphasizing that surveillance and patrols must be sustained to ensure the safety of residents, commuters, and investors.
In a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the governor ordered the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Army, Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), local vigilance groups, and the Edo Special Security Squad to commence coordinated operations in forests, boundary communities, and known flashpoints.
The directive came after a viral video surfaced online featuring a self-acclaimed bandit issuing threats and claiming presence around Ekpoma and adjoining communities in Edo Central Senatorial District.
Since assuming office, Governor Okpebholo has treated security as a top priority, holding continuous strategic briefings and activating a state-wide surveillance architecture.
Key corridors under watch include the Benin-Auchi Expressway, Ekpoma-Uromi Road, Ehor-Iruekpen Axis, Benin Bypass, Ewu-Irua-Ubiaja Route, and the Benin-Afuze-Auchi corridor.
“These measures are designed to ensure early detection, swift response, and sustained pressure against criminal networks,” Itua explained.
He added that search-and-comb missions, backed by intelligence gathering and coordinated patrols, are ongoing to deny criminal elements safe havens anywhere in the state.
The statement noted that significant breakthroughs have already been recorded, with arrests made in connection to recent security breaches and several leads currently being pursued.
Governor Okpebholo assured residents that operations would continue until every part of Edo—urban centres, rural communities, and transit corridors—was fully secured. Citizens were urged to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperative with security agencies, while avoiding misinformation and panic-driven narratives.
The administration reiterated its commitment to deploying all lawful measures to ensure that criminality has no space in Edo State, reinforcing the governor’s resolve to safeguard lives and property.