Okpebholo orders security to be on red code
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has ordered security agencies to be on red code over likely breakdown of law and order in Okpella, Estako East Local Government. The order followed
- From Osagie Otabor, Benin
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has ordered security agencies to be on red code over likely breakdown of law and order in Okpella, Estako East Local Government.
The order followed last week’s court ruling on the Okuokpellagbe throne in which the court held that Lukman Akemokue was removed as the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella without fair hearing.
Supporters of Akemukue have been angling to take over the throne in line with the court ruling.
Governor Okpebholo warned persons and groups plotting to destabilise Okpella community following the court ruling on the area’s traditional leadership.
He promised to deal with anyone found to have breached the peace in the community.
Okpebholo, in a statement by the Commissioner for Public Safety and Security, Festus Ebea, said his administration had credible intelligence indicating that certain unscrupulous elements had defied his earlier directive ‘’and are now scheming to unleash mayhem on Okpella community.’’
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He said the state government would not watch idly while lawless individuals and groups moved to subvert the judicial process, undermine constituted authority, or hold an entire community hostage to their reckless ambitions.
The statement said: “No individual or faction possesses the right to self-appoint as enforcer of any court ruling while the matter remains actively subject to appeal. The judiciary belongs to the state, and its processes will be respected and protected accordingly.
“All relevant security agencies are hereby alerted to be on code red, while law enforcement officers deployed to monitor the situation in Okpella should be active. Any act of self-help, forceful takeover, intimidation, harassment, or disruption of the traditional institution — by any person, faction, or group — is illegal, absolutely intolerable, and will attract immediate and decisive government response.
“All law-abiding stakeholders, community leaders, and residents of Okpella are advised to remain calm, exercise restraint and allow the judicial process to run its full and unobstructed course.”
