Kidnapping: I’ll sign my father’s death warrant if convicted — Okpebholo

File photo: Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State.

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has vowed to approve the execution of convicted kidnappers regardless of their relationship with him, saying he would personally supervise the process.

The governor said he would not spare anyone found guilty of kidnapping, even if the person was his father or a close family member.

Okpebholo spoke in a video shared by TheCable on Tuesday, amid efforts by his administration to enforce the state’s law prescribing the death penalty for kidnapping.

“I pray our brothers are not involved because I will sign it. Even if it is my father, I will sign it. The truth is this: we just have to get some bad elements out of the system for the system to stand.

“Because somebody will die. But these people are the ones killing people. How many people have we killed?” he said.

The governor said kidnapping victims had suffered severe trauma, citing an incident in which a woman was allegedly pushed during an abduction attempt and the injuries sustained by the state’s Chief Judge in an attack by kidnappers.

“Just look at the way they were pushing that woman down there. Supposing she died at that, because of fear, only fear. It’s enough for her to die. People have gone through trauma.

“Even our Chief Judge, if you see our Chief Judge, one of his hands was cut off by kidnappers,” he added.

Okpebholo said he had asked the state Attorney-General about the status of the relevant documents and was awaiting further action.

He, however, vowed to pursue the matter through the appeal process, insisting that those convicted would not be allowed to escape punishment.

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“But we still follow them up on the appeal. We won’t just let them go like that. So we will get to wherever they stop, we will take them from there. We will not spare anybody.

“I stand, if I see this paper today, now, I will sign it and I will even supervise the killing,” he said.

The governor’s comments come amid the implementation of the Edo State Kidnapping Prohibition (Amendment) Law, 2025, which introduced the death penalty for kidnapping offences resulting in the death of victims.

The Edo State House of Assembly passed the amendment in February 2025, and Okpebholo signed it into law later that month.

The amended law prescribes life imprisonment for kidnapping offences where victims survive, while those directly involved in abductions resulting in death face capital punishment. It also provides penalties for people who aid, abet or provide support for kidnapping activities.

In September 2026, four men were sentenced to death by a special criminal court in Edo State over the abduction of a woman at the Vegetable Market along Airport Road in Benin City.

The convicts were identified as Marvellous Isaac, Wisdom Michael, Rufus Emete Michael and Gift Raphael. They were found guilty of the June 14, 2026 abduction and other related offences.

Okpebholo had previously said he would sign the death warrants of convicted kidnappers who failed to appeal their sentences within the stipulated 30-day period.

His administration established a special criminal court to accelerate the prosecution of kidnapping and cultism cases as part of efforts to tackle insecurity in the state.