Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has cautioned religious leaders against pleading for arrested criminal suspects in Edo State, thereby breeding social vices and undermining public trust in religion institutions in the State.
Dr Patrick Ebojele, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor said he spoke on Wednesday at the 2026 Ministers’ Conference organised by the Edo State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Benin City, the State Capital.
He stated that criminal networks operating in the state are now being reinforced with recruits from other parts of the country with local collaborators.
According to the Governor, these criminal gangs, including Clerics who intercede on behalf arrested criminal suspects behind kidnap-for-ransom operations and handing over victims to hired gangs in the bush with the support of other criminal from other parts of the federation.
Referencing an incident in which he received a report on the Sapele Road, and immediately deployed security operatives to the area, only to discover that nothing had happened in Edo State.
Okpebholo who warned that such practices will no longer be tolerated, said, “Pastors, if you hear that I have arrested somebody, don’t come to beg me”.
He asked, “Do you know one funny thing — our people are now going outside Edo to recruit criminals to help them do the job. They will kidnap somebody and hand the victim over to them in the bush.
“Tomorrow you will see them driving expensive cars and building houses. How are they getting these things? They will tell you they are Yahoo Boys”, according to him.
Addressing the gathering earlier, the Vice Chairman of CAN in Edo, Rev. Alfred Agbonlahor, applauded the Governor for the ongoing rehabilitation of the Benin-Sapele Road.
In her remarks, Pastor Margaret Agbonifo commended the governor for his commitment to faith and public service, and prayed that he would complete his tenure strong and leave Edo better than he met it.
