The Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has raised alarm over the worsening insecurity in Edo State, urging Governor Monday Okpebholo to take decisive steps against the rising wave of kidnappings.
Speaking at an award ceremony in Benin City, CRPP Chairman Samson Isibor lamented that residents are living in fear as criminal gangs dominate highways, farmlands, and even residential areas.
He described the situation as “alarming and overwhelming,” noting that kidnappers now demand ransoms ranging between ₦20 million and ₦100 million, leaving families financially devastated.
Isibor stressed that Edo people can no longer sleep peacefully, as abductions have become rampant. “Kidnappers have impoverished us, treating citizens like prisoners of war,” he said, adding that the state’s economic hardship has compounded the crisis.
He accused the governor of failing to deliver on campaign promises after one year in office, pointing to the high cost of food, widespread unemployment, and thousands of graduates roaming the streets without jobs.
“Governor Okpebholo must rise to the occasion and rescue Edo people from this nightmare. We cannot continue to live under the grip of criminal elements,” Isibor declared.
He also dismissed nicknames critics have given the governor, such as “Akpako Rescue” or “Akpako Messiah,” insisting that the people need real solutions, not labels.
The CRPP emphasized that Edo, already one of the poorest states in Nigeria, cannot withstand the economic strain of ransom payments while battling hunger and joblessness. The group called for urgent government intervention to restore security and hope to the people.
