Governor Monday Okpebholo this week bolstered the security architecture of Edo Central Senatorial District with the formal presentation of 10 brand-new patrol vehicles to security agencies operating in the region, in a move officials describe as part of a broader strategy to combat crime and enhance rapid response capabilities. The vehicles were handed over during a ceremony in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area, attended by traditional rulers, security stakeholders, political leaders and community representatives.
In a statement released on Saturday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Patrick Ebojele, Okpebholo affirmed his administration’s zero-tolerance stance on crime and criminality, describing the gesture as substantive support for frontline security personnel rather than a mere symbolic act.
“This is not just about handing over vehicles. It is about understanding what our security personnel are facing on the ground and responding directly,” the governor said. “Security is the foundation of development, and we will not compromise the safety of our people.”
Governor Okpebholo explained that the acquisition and distribution of the 10 patrol vehicles are part of an ongoing effort to equip security agencies with the transportation and logistical support needed for swift, efficient responses to security threats across the district. He said that without mobility, security forces are handicapped when it comes to responding to incidents, a situation his administration intends to correct.
The governor also spotlighted the role of community collaboration in ensuring that the enhanced capability translates into real improvements on the ground. He urged community leaders to support profiling and payroll enlistment of local security volunteers, including members of the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC), hunters and anti-cultism squads, as part of efforts to formalise and sustain community-based security support.
“For it to be implemented, you need to cooperate with chairmen in the various local government areas. The names of your members (ESSC, hunters, anti-cultism) must be submitted for profiling and enlisting into the payroll as this is the only way to start receiving salaries,” Okpebholo said, highlighting plans to extend these measures across all 18 local government areas in Edo State.
The governor pointed to earlier steps taken by his administration to strengthen security manpower. He revealed that a committee had been established to train some 2,500 security corps personnel, who are to be integrated with existing ESSC members and strategically deployed across the state. “With this number, we should have at least over 300 security personnel in each local government area,” he said.
Edo Central APC Senatorial Leader, Major General Cecil Esekhaigbe (retd.), commended the governor’s initiative and urged that it be complemented with sustained logistical support, intelligence tools and increased operational funding. He also emphasised the role of traditional rulers in reinforcing vigilance at the grassroots level, including profiling suspicious persons and vehicles entering communities.
“Our communities must become the first line of defence. If we work together, criminals will have no safe haven in Edo Central,” Esekhaigbe said.
Traditional ruler His Royal Highness Anselm Aidenojie II, the Onojie of Uromi, praised Okpebholo’s “practical, inclusive and results-driven” leadership approach, recognising the directive for security improvement as aligned with community expectations. He announced that traditional leaders and Esan diaspora groups are finalising plans to establish an Esan Security Trust Fund, aimed at mobilising financial and material support to further strengthen security operations.
The patrol vehicle handover aligns with Governor Okpebholo’s wider focus on security reform, which has featured prominently in his administration’s agenda since he took office. Previous initiatives include enhancements to the state’s security framework, recruitment of additional personnel, and legislative reforms to strengthen anti-cultism measures. Local commentators say these efforts reflect the governor’s commitment to creating safer communities and fostering an environment conducive to development and investment.
