The senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Joseph Ikpea, has praised Governor Monday Okpebholo for taking swift action to prevent a potential mass abduction of students in Edo State following a security alert issued by the Department of State Services.
Governor Okpebholo had on Tuesday ordered the temporary closure of three secondary schools in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo North Senatorial District after intelligence reports indicated that armed bandits were planning attacks on schools in the area.
The affected schools are Ososo Grammar School, Ososo Comprehensive High School and Makeke Secondary School.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued on Thursday in Benin City, Ikpea described the governor’s decision as timely and responsible, noting that it demonstrated a strong commitment to the safety and welfare of citizens.
“I want to commend His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Executive Governor of our dear state, Edo, for the prompt decision he took by closing down three secondary schools in the Akoko Edo area of the state following the security alert raised by the Department of State Security that some undesirable elements in our society were planning to attack some schools in Edo North Senatorial District with a view to kidnapping our children,” he said.
According to the senator, the governor’s response reflected good leadership and a clear understanding of government’s responsibility to protect lives and property.
“The decision by Governor Okpebholo to act swiftly when he got the information goes to show his good and uncommon leadership and understanding of the principle of governance, which stipulates that the government must seek the well-being of the people at all times,” Ikpea stated.
He acknowledged that the closure of the schools would cause disruption to academic activities, particularly at a time when students across the country are sitting for national and regional examinations. However, he maintained that the decision was necessary to prevent a possible tragedy.
“There is no doubt that the decision to close the schools at this period comes with some pain, given that students across the nation are writing national or sub-regional examinations.
However, it is only appropriate that the governor closed the schools instead of waiting for the evil act to be perpetrated,” he added.
The lawmaker also called on residents of Edo State, especially those in Edo Central Senatorial District, to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements and activities to security agencies.
“It is pertinent at this juncture to call on Nigerians to be more vigilant. The issue of security, given the development in our dear nation today, has gone beyond being the exclusive preserve of the government.
All citizens must be involved and take the matter as part of their civic responsibilities to the Nigerian State,” he said.
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Ikpea warned residents not to assume that the threat was limited to Edo North simply because the security alert specifically mentioned the district.
“I want to appeal to the people of Edo Central not to consider the alert as raised by the Department of State Security as the problem of Edo North Senatorial District because the security alert did not mention Edo Central.
“It is obvious that the undesirable elements responsible for this dastardly act of kidnapping don’t discriminate against tribe and region.
Therefore, our people must be conscious of their environment, study all strange faces that come into their neighbourhood and take the bold step by reporting any strange activity around them to security agents and the authorities concerned. We should not wait till it happens before we act,” he noted.
The senator also commended the DSS and other security agencies operating in Edo State for their collaboration with the state government in maintaining security and preventing criminal activities.
He pledged continued support for initiatives aimed at tackling insecurity and protecting residents from criminal elements.
The commendation follows reports of a leaked DSS memo addressed to the Edo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, indicating that intelligence operatives had uncovered a plot by suspected kidnappers to target public schools in Edo North.
The memo reportedly revealed that security agencies intercepted communications between suspects discussing the planned attacks and arrested an individual allegedly conducting surveillance within one of the affected schools.
The intelligence prompted the state government to take preventive measures by shutting down the schools and strengthening security around vulnerable locations.