The Edo State government has declared over 200 government vehicles missing under the previous administration of Godwin Obaseki who exited office on November 12th 2024.
Kelly Okungbowa, Chairman of the State government Committee mandated to recover vehicles belonging to Edo State government said less than two weeks after Monday Okpebholo emerged as Edo State Governor.
He revealed that the Committee recovered three vehicles, comprising one Hilux van and two Toyota Hiace buses were found in a private residence within the past 24 hours or commenced work.
Briefing journalists in Benin City, Okungbowa said the palliatives met for Edo residents, including bags of garri and rice of 10kg and 25kg were recovered in one of the vehicles.
According to him, in one of the Toyota Hiace buses, the Committee recovered some palliatives which was meant to have been shared to Edo people. He added that the palliatives include bags of garri and rice of 10kg and 25kg.
He appealed for more information from members of the public, saying it was the information earlier obtained that led to the recovery of the three vehicles.
Okungbowa also assured whistleblowers that a handsome reward awaits them provided their information are correct and verifiable.
He recalled that: “Yesterday, we were inaugurated, we promised to follow the law to carry out the mandate of Mr Governor which is to recover all missing government vehicles in private hands.
“We are glad to inform the people of Edo State that we have recorded success within 24 hours of our inauguration.
“I am glad to announce to you that we have recovered one Hilux and two Toyota Hiace buses in private custody. You see that within 24 hours that we have made success and recovered some vehicles.
“We assure Edo people and the State Government that we are going to do the job to the best of our ability. We will make sure we recover all the stolen vehicles.
“Reports reaching us is that we have over 200 government vehicles missing. We appeal for more information as the whistleblowers will be handsomely rewarded.
“This is not private property but the property of Edo citizens and it is not good for a private individual to steal government property.
“These vehicles were recovered from one person’s house. Palliatives were recovered from the Toyota Hiace bus as some garri and bags of rice where kept in the bus.
“We are just wondering how many will be in the Houses of former government officials like the Chief of Staff, SSG and so called Deputy Governor which is not known by law.
“We appeal to former government officials and other citizens holding back government vehicles to return the vehicles within 48 hours. Information is key as these three vehicles recovered this morning was as a result of information.
“We need more information as we are moving to other places where we have been informed that government vehicles are parked. There have not been resistance so far because security agencies are backing our operations”, he said.
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