Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo, has publicly alleged that recent kidnappings in Nigeria are being orchestrated by political actors, an attempt, he says, to destabilise the government of Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking during a visit from a delegation of Ohanaeze Ndigbo elders in Benin City, Okpebholo claimed that criminals are being used as tools to spread fear and discredit the presidency. “We will not succumb to blackmail,” he said, adding that he believes the wave of abductions is a deliberate “fear tactic.” He recalled that a similar approach was used during the tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan suggesting political actors then allegedly leveraged insecurity to influence public sentiment and electoral outcomes. “They did this to Jonathan and they succeeded,” Okpebholo said.
While condemning the kidnappings, the governor promised that his administration would not yield to such pressure. He reaffirmed the commitment of his government to protect the lives and properties of Edo residents, vowing to “call out” anyone regardless of political background found sponsoring or enabling violence.The allegations mark a sharp escalation in the rhetoric around insecurity in Edo State — moving beyond crime prevention into the realm of alleged political sabotage. Many citizens and civil-society groups will be watching closely to see whether law enforcement agencies respond with credible investigations and accountability.
