Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has declared that he would not hesitate to approve the execution of anyone convicted of kidnapping in the state, even if the suspect is a member of his family.
The governor said his administration would not spare anyone found guilty of kidnapping, insisting that the fight against insecurity must be pursued without sentiment or favouritism.
In February 2025, the Edo State Government approved the implementation of the Kidnapping Prohibition (Amendment) Law, 2025, which introduced the death penalty for kidnapping offences resulting in the death of victims.
In September 2026, the Edo State Special Criminal Court sentenced four persons to death over the abduction of a woman at Vegetable Market, along Airport Road, in Benin City.
The trial judge, Aigbona Momodu, convicted the defendants on an 11-count charge bordering on kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.
The convicts were identified as Marvellous Isaac, Wisdom Michael, Rufus Emete Michael and Gift Raphael. The victim was abducted on June 14, 2026.
Speaking in Benin City, Okpebholo said his administration was determined to ensure that those responsible for kidnapping were brought to justice, irrespective of their relationship with him or their family background.
“I pray our brothers are not involved because I would sign you too. In any case, my father, I would sign you,” the governor said.
He said the government was determined to rid the state of criminal elements, arguing that decisive action was necessary to restore security and protect residents.
“The truth is this: we just have to get some bad elements out of the system, for the system to stand,” he said.
Defending the position of his administration on the death penalty, Okpebholo acknowledged that the punishment could result in the loss of lives but argued that kidnappers had also caused the deaths of many innocent people.
“And because somebody would die… but these people are killing people, and many people are being killed,” he said.
The governor also cited the experience of the Edo State Chief Judge, whose hand he said was severed by kidnappers, as an example of the brutality associated with kidnapping.
“Even our chief judge, if you see our chief judge, one of his hands was cut off by kidnappers. But a few days ago I asked my attorney-general what happened,” he said.
Okpebholo said he had been following the legal proceedings involving the suspects but was informed by the Attorney-General that an appeal had been filed.
“I’ve been waiting for the paper. He said they appealed. But we’ll still follow them up on the appeal,” he said.
He vowed that the government would continue to pursue the case through the judicial process, insisting that those convicted would not be allowed to escape accountability.
“We won’t just leave them to go like that. So we’ll get to wherever they stop. We’ll take them from there,” he said.
Reiterating his administration’s position, the governor said he was prepared to approve the death penalty once the necessary legal processes had been concluded.
“We will not spare anybody. If I see this paper today, now, I will sign it, and I will even survive the killing,” Okpebholo said.