Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Edo State government has commiserated with the family of Momoh Tahir over the abduction and killing of their son, Dr Abu Momoh Tahir.
The government described the recent abduction and killing as unfortunate, painful, and deeply regrettable, assuring the public that the incident does not diminish the resolve of the state to sustain and intensify its fight against kidnapping and other crimes.
The government notes that the existential threat of kidnapping has become a worrisome issue that has taken more than the devoted attention of the government. But for our intervention and the quality of what we have invested in curbing kidnapping, the spate would have been more alarming than what we presently have.
The government, in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr. Patrick Obojele, said, “The Okpebholo-led administration has been relentless in providing solutions to several security challenges; the peaceful and crime-free yuletide celebration is an indication of our commitment to making Edo State safe for all.
“The incident of the doctor’s kidnap was quite unfortunate, painful and regrettable, as it tended to cast a slur on our spirited efforts at addressing this challenge.
“Before the yuletide season, men of Operation Rescue carried out a holistic bush combing exercise across Auchi, Agenebode, Okpella, Fugar and Owan areas to expose kidnappers’ dens.
“The exercise was not only successful, the number of persons arrested and being prosecuted presently underscores the extent of the exercise.
“The Operation Rescue team were able to destroy quite a number of hide-outs of these kidnappers aside from the arrests. Some were also killed in the course of firepower exchanges in the forests.
“This is to make the point that the government is not resting on its oars, and the initial perennial incidences of kidnapping have been decimated to their lowest ebb. Our deliberate effort to nip the issue in the bud has yielded a lot of successes and we are determined to make Edo safe for all.”
The statement said what the government expected from members of the Edo public is a show of solidarity and cooperation, particularly in the area of intelligence sharing with men of Operation Rescue and other security agencies.
“Security concerns are a function of both the government and the people they govern. It is a collective indulgence that should not be left in the hands of the government alone.
“We feel pained as a government that the kidnappers claimed the life of Dr Abu Momoh Tahir at a time we thought we had gotten to the safer corridor of our security engagement. We will continue to improve on our efforts to make Edo non-habitable for crimes and criminalities as we call on all to be vigilant around their environment at all times. If anyone observes strange movements around their vicinity, appropriate report should be given to the law enforcement agents without delay.
“We condole with the family of Dr Abu Momoh Tahir over this avoidable death. We wish to assure the public that those who carried out this dastardly act will be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law. They surely will not escape the long arms of the law,” the statement added.
Recall that Dr Abu Momoh Tahir and his elder brother, Dr Ibrahim Abu Tahir, were abducted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on January 2 while trying to access their apartment in Auchi, Edo State.
At press time yesterday, the deceased’s elder brother was still being held by the gunmen who had earlier demanded N100 million ransom to set the two brothers free.