By Monday Ajogun
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo has announced a N10 million reward for Police Operatives, who apprehended suspects of the Benin vegetable market kidnapping that shook residents of the state on Sunday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that unidentified gunmen attacked a family buying fruits at the Fruit Market near the Benin airport, and abducted a woman, after shooting at a tyre of their parked Jeep but the husband and children escaped unhurt.
The woman was rescued from the kidnappers den on Wednesday.
Okpebholo announced the reward at the Police command in the state on Thursday, during parade of some suspects, among whom were those, who carried out the Vegetable Market kidnapping, near the airport road in Benin.
The governor said the state would be setting up a special court for prosecuting kidnappers, cultists and other very high security crimes to ensure speedy judgment.
He also said that such courts would be required to conclude proceedings within a month of the trials.
The governor said he would not hesitate to sign death warrants for convicted murderers and other offences requiring a death sentence.
He described the vegetable market kidnapping as horrifying and terrible, insisting that the suspects must be prosecuted without delay.
“When the incident happened on Sunday, I contacted the police commissioner to ensure that the abductors were swiftly arrested.
“The commissioner swung into action and arrested a suspect but one was neutralised during the operation, while two others are currently at large.
“You can see that the police, army and other security operatives are working, I wonder why the people keep complaining that the President is not working, the President is funding the security operatives to function well.
“That is why criminals will never find peace in Edo, they won’t go free after committing crimes in Edo, they will be arrested.
“We are ready for criminals and their sponsors, we are not joking, we are working day and night to make sure that Edo is safe,” he said.
The governor, however, appealed to residents to stay away from all forms of criminality, saying that it is cheaper to maintain one’s standard than to indulge in crime.
“I will sign your execution, we will take you to Ring Road round about, so that Edo people can watch, I will have no regret about it, so, don’t take my simplicity for granted,” he added.
On his part, the police commissioner, Mr Monday Agbonika said that investigation is ongoing with efforts intensified to apprehend fleeing members of the gang, who abducted the rescued woman.
Agbonika listed a red Lexus RX 350 with registration number EKP 848 AE, one pump-action shotgun, two live cartridges, a cash sum of N2,250,000 suspected to be proceeds of crime, and one motorcycle as items recovered from the suspect.
“I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the governor, for his continued support to the command and also appreciate the support and guidance of the Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu,” he said.
He reaffirmed that the command remained committed to protecting lives and property, urging members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to the police.
(NAN)
