The Senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Joseph Ikpea, has thrown his weight behind Governor Monday Okpebholo’s intensified efforts to combat kidnapping and cult-related crimes in Edo State.
Ikpea praised the governor’s swift response to the recent abduction of a woman at the popular Vegetable Market in Benin City, which led to her rescue and the arrest of a suspected kidnapper through a coordinated operation by security agencies.
The senator also expressed support for proposals aimed at ensuring speedy prosecution of suspected kidnappers and cultists, describing the governor’s tough stance as a strong warning to criminal elements operating in the state.
According to him, the successful rescue operation and ongoing crackdown on criminal networks have boosted public confidence in the state’s security architecture and demonstrated the government’s commitment to protecting lives and property.
Ikpea reaffirmed his readiness to collaborate with the Edo State Government and fellow lawmakers to strengthen security across all senatorial districts, stressing that security should be viewed as a collective responsibility.
He urged residents to support security agencies with credible information, noting that active community participation is vital in the fight against crime and criminality.
The senator maintained that sustained cooperation between government, security agencies, and citizens would help make Edo State increasingly hostile to criminal activities.
