With a charge to ensure that criminals do not turn Edo to a safe haven, Governor Monday Okpebholo, yesterday met with heads of security services in the state.
The meeting followed a viral video in which a self-acclaimed terrorist threatened to attack Edo Central Senatorial district.
In the video, the individual claimed presence around Ekpoma and adjoining communities, issuing threats.
Confirming the meeting in a statement, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor, Fred Itua, said the security chiefs briefed the governor on the issue.
Itua assured Edo residents that security was top-tier priority for the Governor, adding that emerging threats were being confronted.
He said the security architecture was designed to ensure early detection, swift response, and sustained pressure against criminal networks.
‘Following the Governor’s latest directive, the Department of State Service (DSS), the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), local vigilante formations, and the Edo State Special Security Squad, have commenced intensified operations across forests, boundary communities, and known flashpoints.
‘Search-and-comb missions are ongoing, backed by enhanced intelligence gathering and coordinated patrols to deny criminal elements safe haven anywhere within the State.
‘Already, significant breakthroughs have been recorded. Arrests have been made in connection with recent security breaches, and several leads are currently being pursued.
‘The Government reiterates that these operations are continuous and will not cease until every inch of Edo land, urban centres, rural communities, and transit corridors are fully secured and safe for residents, commuters, and investors,’ he stated.
Itua urged the people to shun misinformation, panic-driven narratives, and unverified videos.