Following the spate of kidnapping and killings, the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has urged Governor Monday Okpebholo to strengthen the security architecture across the state.
The union made the call in a resolution during its emergency Congress last Thursday in Benin City.
In a six-point communique, the union, condemned the recent killing of eight operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) during an attack on the BUA Cement factory in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of the state.
The communique was signed by Usman Aliyu, chairman, Josephine Erhinmwinhe, secretary and Charles Kiseh.
With the communique, Edo NUJ has joined the league of organisations and individuals that have condemned the killing of the security personnel as well as the abduction of passengers in the New Edo Line Transport Company on September 5, 2025.
It was alleged that since the incidents, there has been no statement of condolences or condemnation from the Edo State government, the state chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The development, however, prompted the Civil Society Organisations in the state to condemn the state government for lack of empathy.
The CSOs, who commiserated with the deceased families and sympathised with the injured ones currently receiving treatment in hospitals, are the Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO) and Edo Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights.
The state leadership of the Labour Party (LP) also condemned the unfortunate incidents.
EDOCSO on its part advised Governor Okpebholo to bother less with the 2027 election and concentrate more on securing the lives of Edo people with the monthly security votes being collected.
Also, the Edo Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights opined that the governor’s purported silence on the incidents is deafening.
It asserted that with a new administration in place, the people expected a decisive break from the failures of the past.
The body, however, congratulated Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom, who is also the grand patron of the union, on his 91st birthday celebration.
The union, which wished the celebrant good health and long life, added that it also acknowledged his contributions to media development in Nigeria.
