19th March, 2024
By Jethro Ibileke
The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, has announced a total lockdown on criminal activities in the state.
Adegboye who stated this Monday night, while parading suspected criminals arrested for various crimes at different locations in the state.
He said: “A spike in criminality has led us to manhunt for most of these criminals. These are very deadly weapons.
“We have observed that some unscrupulous elements have turned this state to a situation where guns are just like catapults. These are not good for the society and we are not going to allow it.
“For example, recently, because of what is happening, there is a kind rise in some criminal activities both in the Benin City metropolis and some other parts of the state. We have stepped up our actions against hoodlums operating in whatever guise.
“In this state, it is quite astonishing and almost unbelievable that people are now carrying arms. These were recovered within a spate of forum days from different parts of the state. This is absolutely scaring and we will not allow it.
“We are going to have total lockdown on criminal activities. We have started since Friday and we are working in conjunction and collaboration with our sister agencies; the military is assisting us and solidly behind us, we have the DSS, we have the Civil Defense Corps and other agencies.
“The Vigilantes are wonderful, otherwise, hoodlums had wanted to take over this state, which we are not going to allow. We will not allow any form of criminality in the state, we are battle-ready for them,” he added.
The Edo CP appealed to all stakeholders, including the judiciary and members of the public to assist the Command in keeping criminals off the streets of the state.
This is even as he warned all criminal elements to turn a new leave or vacate the state.
“I want to use the opportunity to appeal to our stakeholders again, especially the judiciary. They are trying for us, they are some people we don’t want them in the society and we don’t want to take laws into our hands. Such elements are not supposed to be in the society.
“I want to sound another warning to criminals involving in heinous crimes like like kidnapping, like rape, burglary and stealing. These will not be tolerated. Our men have been sensitized and they are ready.
“I don’t want to give a damn, whether you’re practicing openly or you’re practicing in a clandestine way, the most important thing is, do not commit crime, either as a cultist or you call yourself a pastor or imam or babalawo.
“Just do whatever you are doing withing the ambit of the law, otherwise, you’ll face the full wrath of the law, just to make the citizens of this state to carry on their activities unmolested.”
Finally, CP Adegboye appealed to the law-abiding citizens of Edo that they should please continue unmolested with their lawful activities, adding: “we would not allow hoodlums to deter us, neither would we allow them to discourage us.”