By Imelda Osayande
The Edo government has described the recent abduction and killing of Dr Abu Momoh Tahir in Auchi, as unfortunate, painful, and deeply regrettable.
This is contained in a statement signed by Chief Press Secretary to the Edo Governor, Mr Ebojele Patrick, on Tuesday in Benin.
The government assured the public that the incident does not diminish the state’s resolve to intensify its fight against kidnapping and sundry crimes.
“We condole with the family of Dr. Abu Momoh Tahir over this avoidable death.
“We wish to assure the public that those who carried out this dastardly act will be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law.
“They surely will not escape the long arms of the law,” he said
The government noted that the existential threat of kidnapping has become a worrisome trend that has taken more than a devoted attention of government.
“But for our intervention and the quality of what we have invested in curbing kidnapping, the spate would have been more alarming than what we presently have.
“The Okpebholo-led administration has been relentless in providing solutions to several security challenges; the peaceful and crime-free yuletide celebration is an indication of our commitment to making Edo State safe for all.
“The incident of the Doctor’s kidnap was quite unfortunate, painful, and regrettable, as it tended to cast a slur on our spirited efforts at addressing this challenge,” he said.
According to him, before the yuletide season, men of the Operation Rescue had carried out a holistic bush combing exercise across Auchi, Agenebode, Okpella, Fugar, and Owan areas to expose kidnappers’ dens.
He noted that the exercise was not only successful, adding that the number of persons arrested and being prosecuted presently underscores the extent of the exercise.
According to him, the rescue team was able to destroy quite a number of hide-outs of the kidnappers aside from the arrests adding that some were killed in the course of firepower exchanges.
“This is to make the point that the government is not resting on its oars, and the initial perennial incidences of kidnapping have been decimated to their lowest ebb,” he said
The government said that the deliberate effort to nip the issue in the bud has yielded a lot of successes, and it is determined to make Edo safe for all.
“Security concerns are a function of both the government and the people they govern; It is a collective indulgence that should not be left in the hands of the government alone,” he added. (NAN)
