From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Two popular clerics, Pastor Margaret Agbonifo and Pastor Obby Okeke, yesterday, commended Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, for his administration’s efforts in tackling insecurity, urging him to address bad roads across the state.
The clerics spoke during the 2026 Harvest of Family Intercessory Ministries (FIM) International Inc., attended by the governor and top officials of his administration. The delegation also visited Christian Brethren Ministries (CBM) to celebrate Okeke’s 65th birthday.
Agbonifo, the vision bearer of FIM, praised the governor for his efforts to combat kidnapping, cultism, banditry and other criminal activities in the state.
“I want to thank you for the way you are addressing insecurity across the state, especially the way you have fought kidnapping, cultism, banditry and other forms of criminality in the state. The state is very peaceful today”, she said.
She attributed the improvement in security to what she described as the governor’s courage, commitment and determination to confront criminal activities.
“Before your administration, Your Excellency, people were kidnapped, cult killings were everywhere in the state, and blood flowed freely in the state. But that is no longer the case today, as Governor Okpebholo has brought back peace to the state”, Agbonifo said.
She, however, appealed to the governor to address the poor condition of roads, particularly those in the Government Reserved Area (GRA), saying “Edo people want good roads. Please help address it”.
Similarly, the General Overseer of CBM, Okeke, thanked the governor for his administration’s response to the kidnapping of victims at a vegetable market, which she said led to the arrest of the suspects within 24 hours.
She said the victims were close friends of the church and described the incident as traumatic, adding that the swift arrests brought relief to those affected.
Responding, Governor Okpebholo said his administration had made progress in tackling crime and would sustain efforts to improve security across the state.
He said the government had procured more than 40 vehicles and motorcycles to strengthen security operations, adding that they would be deployed to strategic junctions to enable security personnel to respond quickly to distress calls.
The governor said the suspects involved in the vegetable market kidnapping were arrested within 24 hours, adding that his administration intended to maintain a similar response to criminal activities across the state.
On the condition of roads, particularly in the GRA, Okpebholo disclosed that five contractors had been identified to handle road construction projects in the area after the rainy season.
“Edo people are crying about bad roads in the GRA, and social media is full of complaints. But don’t worry. Immediately after the rainy season, we will embark on massive work and put everything to rest”, he said.
He added that the government would work on roads across the state to make them motorable, noting that poor planning and inadequate drainage had contributed to the condition of some roads.
“Edo roads were built without proper planning. There are no good drainages on roads in the GRA and other parts of the state. The drainages on some roads are already filled up, and nobody is desilting them”, Okpebholo lamented and assured that the administration would address the drainage problems as part of its road construction and rehabilitation plans.
He acknowledged that executing the projects would be challenging but said proper planning was necessary to achieve the government’s objectives.
“Rain is an enemy to construction. After the rain, we will start our work, and Edo people will see that we have started our work and enjoy good roads across the state”, the governor said.
On security, he said special forces were undergoing training and would be deployed in the coming weeks to strengthen surveillance and monitor movement across the state.
“Edo will be safer very soon, as special forces are already in training, and in the next few weeks there will be heavy security presence across the state, monitoring people’s movement”, Governor Okpebholo disclosed.
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