Plans have been concluded by the Edo State Government to flush out killer herdsmen and other criminals from the state’s forests.
Governor Godwin Obaseki disclosed this on Wednesday when he led heads of security agencies in the state on a fact-finding tour of Ugo community, Orhionmwon Local Government Area(LGA) where some families that lost their loved ones to herdsmen attacks.
Praising the residents for being law-abiding, the governor explained that Edo People were not against anyone who conducts business in the state “legally and lawfully.”
He said: “I am here with the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Philip Agbadu, and other heads of security agencies in the state to commiserate with you. This is to tell you how seriously we take what has happened in Ugo. “We are here first to commiserate with you and to let you know that we feel your pains and that as a government, we are very concerned and worried.
“The principal role of any government is to protect the lives and property of citizens. We are here to find out for ourselves what actually happened and to make certain decisions.
”I know this is not the first time it has happened, but we want to make sure that this sort of thing does not happen again in this community. I want to thank you for being law-abiding citizens and not taking laws into your hands.”
The governor reassured the residents of his administration’s commitment to check the activities of killer herdsmen in the community.
He added: “I want to assure you that an operation will be carried out. I am very happy with the number of vigilantes I see in the community, which means that you have enough information.
“We are not against the presence of anybody who wants to come and do business here.
“Whether they want to come and herd their cattle or they want to do other business here, you are not against them. You are only saying that, if they want to come and graze, they must do it legally and lawfully.”

The Nation