Herdsmen Attacks: Obaseki Approves 36 Patrol Vehicles, Overhauls Security Operations

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
Following the killings by herdsmen in two communities in  Edo State,  Governor Godwin Obaseki had on Monday  approved 36 patrol vehicles and overhaul of the joint military/police patrol outfit,  Operation Thunderstorm.

Obaseki who strongly condemned the action of the assailants, promised that the state would spare no resources  to fishing them out for prosecution.

He also visited families of those persons killed to commiserate with them.
The governor reiterated his earlier directive to security agencies to apprehend the bandits within seven days.
The persons killed are: 17-year-old undergraduate of Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma (AAU), Akhere Ojierakhi; a toddler and a secondary school student, Victor Momodu as well as two others who identify is yet unknown as at press time.

He pledged the support of the state government to the families of the victims in their struggle to overcome the loss of their relatives.
The visits to the families of the victims of the attacks were followed by a Security Town Hall Meeting in Ubiaja,  where the governor unveiled new measures that the state government has adopted to tackle the attacks on innocent Edo people.

The measures according to him, include the overhaul of Operation Thunderstorm, the special taskforce dedicated to fighting violent crimes in the state.

He said 36 patrol vans have been approved to security agencies to patrol the 18 local government areas of the state, with each local council receiving two patrol vehicles each.

Addressing elders from the senatorial district at the security town hall meeting as well as women, representatives of Hausa community and youths, on plans to ensure that the attacks on innocent people are not allowed to happen again, Obaseki said:  “We will apprehend the people who committed this heinous crime and we shall prosecute them and bring them to justice.

“We are also deploying economic development initiatives to combat this crisis. With these initiatives that I have for this state and Esan land, I cannot allow this atrocious acts to persist.”