Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has said he may sign execution warrants for four people sentenced to death over a kidnapping at the Vegetable Market in Benin City, subject to the applicable legal process.
Speaking during a religious gathering, the governor said insecurity, particularly kidnapping and cult-related violence, had been a major concern since he took office. He referred to a September 29, 2026 judgment in which an Edo State court reportedly sentenced four defendants to death for abducting a woman near Airport Road.
Okpebholo said he hoped the convicts would not appeal and indicated he was prepared to act if the statutory appeal period expired. His comments do not remove the defendants’ rights to appeal or other protections under Nigerian law.
The governor also described consultations with traditional rulers and efforts to dismantle locations allegedly associated with cult groups. He recounted unusual incidents that he interpreted in spiritual terms, without offering independent evidence connecting them to criminal activity.
At the gathering, cleric Ehijele Umuahia encouraged worshippers to support the governor and participate in future elections.
The remarks are likely to renew scrutiny of the use of capital punishment, due process and the government’s wider response to violent crime in Edo State.
