Senator Adams Oshiomhole has thrown his full weight behind Governor Monday Okpebholo’s proposal to execute kidnappers and bandits by firing squad, and he did not mince words while doing so.
Oshiomhole made the remarks while addressing party supporters at the flag off of the All Progressives Congress campaign for the Edo North Senatorial District local government elections, held at the Public Field in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area.
The gathering, electric with political energy ahead of next month’s council polls, gave the former Edo governor a platform to make a statement that went well beyond electioneering.
“I stand here to completely endorse the declaration by the governor of Edo State that we are in a federation where every state has the right to enact laws on punishment when it comes to state offences,” he said.
The message was unambiguous: kidnappers and bandits will be punished by death by firing squad.
A Governor Serious About Security
Oshiomhole’s endorsement did not come in a vacuum. Governor Okpebholo has made security the defining pillar of his administration, and his rhetoric has been consistently uncompromising.
The governor has repeatedly insisted that public execution of kidnappers and other criminals would send a clear deterrent message. He has also assured residents that decisive steps are being taken to rid Edo State of criminal elements and restore confidence among farmers and communities.
The security situation in the state has indeed been serious. Okpebholo has expressed concern over the growing involvement of some residents in facilitating kidnapping and other criminal activities.
According to security reports, certain individuals within the state are collaborating with criminal elements from outside Edo, providing support that enables abductions and other unlawful acts.
In response, the state launched a dedicated security operation called the Edo State Security Squad, codenamed “Operation Flush Out Kidnappers and Cultists.” The operation has already been making arrests and demolishing properties linked to criminal syndicates.
Oshiomhole Calls for State Police
Beyond the firing squad endorsement, Oshiomhole also reiterated his support for the creation of state police, arguing that it would complement the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force in tackling insecurity.
It is a position he has long championed, and one that is gaining broader traction nationally as states grapple with security challenges that federal policing alone has struggled to contain.
Oshiomhole said the restoration of civil liberties under the current Edo administration meant that only criminal elements had reasons to fear the government.
It was a pointed message that law-abiding citizens have nothing to worry about, while those preying on communities do.
Governor Okpebholo urged party supporters to mobilise ahead of the forthcoming local government elections and work towards delivering 2.5 million votes for President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
