…urges President Tinubu to Declare a State of Emergency in Edo Over Mindless Killings
The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly condemned the extrajudicial killing of seven individuals in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area, calling it a failure of leadership under Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The party has also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Edo State over rising insecurity.
In a statement issued by the Chairman of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, the party blamed the lynching on the breakdown of law and order in the State, alleging that the mob attack was led by members of the newly reorganized state vigilante operatives under the Okpebholo administration.
According to the PDP, the killings occurred against a backdrop of increasing kidnappings, murders, and sexual violence, which have left many residents feeling abandoned by the government and security agencies. Frustrated by the lack of state intervention, the PDP claims that communities are now resorting to violent acts of vigilante justice.
“Citizens often mirror the character of the government that rules them. Having seen that Okpebholo’s government disregards the rule of law and fails to obey court judgments, the civil population is beginning to adopt similar lawless behavior,” the statement read.
The PDP further alleged that over 100 people have been killed in Edo in recent months due to the government’s failure to address insecurity. It referenced a recent alarm raised by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who warned that Edo was under siege by criminal elements.
The party insisted that the current situation in Edo is more dire than the circumstances that led to the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. “With seven people burned alive in one day and the ongoing threat of retaliatory attacks, Edo is on the brink of a full-blown crisis. We, therefore, call on President Tinubu to take immediate action to prevent further bloodshed,” the PDP declared.
Residents of Uromi, the party noted, are now living in fear of potential reprisals from the relatives and communities of those lynched. Reports indicate that many have fled their homes, seeking safety amid uncertainty over what comes next.
The PDP also accused Governor Okpebholo of failing to build on the security structures put in place by the previous administration. It claimed that his decision to disband surveillance systems and abandon crime-fighting initiatives has worsened the security situation.
“Since assuming office, Okpebholo has done little apart from attempting to dismantle the work of the previous administration. He has left governance and security in chaos, focusing only on political battles instead of the welfare of Edo’s citizens,” the statement continued.
The party extended condolences to the families of the victims and reiterated its demand for decisive federal intervention to restore order in the state.
With growing fears of escalating violence, the PDP maintains that declaring a state of emergency in Edo is the only way to prevent further loss of life.
“These are needless deaths-far too many. The federal government must act now to restore peace and protect the people of Edo,” he added.