Acting Chairman of Esan West local government area, Albert Blessing Ebhodaghe, has announced restriction on the movement and operation of commercial and private motorcycles (popularly known as Okada) and tricycles (Keke).

Ebhodaghe said the move was to strengthen public safety as well as maintaining law and order.

The accoutrement by the Council boss followed protest that rocked Ekpoma, administrative headquarters of the council over incessant kidnapping.

Residents of Ekpoma had set up bon fires on the Ekpoma axis of the Benin-Abuja highway.

Motorists were stranded for several hours.

The residents said kidnappers have resorted to abducting people from their houses.

They said kidnappings have become a daily occurrence in Ekpoma.

The Council boss, in a statement, directed that all Okada and tricycle operators must cease movement by 7pm daily.

He said security agencies operating within the locality have been formally instructed to enforce the restriction even as he vowed to sanction violators.

On his part, Edo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Kassim Afegbua, in a statement, said matters of security required calm, coordination and constructive engagement.

He cautioned that actions such as blocking roads and disrupting movement, in the name of protest, might be exploited by criminal elements.

Afegbua said citizens must resist the urge to be caught in such dangerous tendencies.

The Information Commissioner said Governor Okpebholo remained responsive to genuine complaints relating to safety.

He explained that the government believed that effective security solutions were best achieved through intelligence sharing, community collaboration and sustained engagement with security agencies, not through unstructured actions that undermine public order.

According to him, “Governor Okpebholo’s security strategy is built around proactive measures, including the strengthening of the Edo Security Corps, neighbourhood watch initiatives and continuous engagement with community leaders, traditional institutions and sister states.

“These platforms are available for residents to channel security-related concerns, provide useful information and contribute meaningfully to keeping their communities safe.

“It must be emphasised that uncoordinated protests around security matters can distract security agencies from ongoing operations and complicate efforts to address criminal activities. The state therefore urges residents to remain law-abiding, calm and supportive of security operatives who continue to work tirelessly to protect lives and property.” (The Nation)

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