Edo Residents Importing Herders for Kidnapping, Says Festus Ebea

The Edo State Commissioner for Public Safety and Security, Festus Ebea, has made a disturbing revelation about the state's kidnapping situation. According to him, some individuals in the state are importing herders and criminals from other states to carry out kidnappings and other crimes. This shocking claim was made by the commissioner during the monthly briefing organised by the state's Ministry for Information and Strategy in Benin on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. Ebea explained that these herders are initially brought in under the guise of helping with cow rearing, but they eventually become involved in kidnapping and other criminal activities. The commissioner stated, 'From our security lenses, we have found out that some of our youths now keep herdsmen and the terrorists in their houses and point out to them where there is business to do.' He further revealed that some suspects who have been arrested by security agencies have confessed to being brought into the state by some youths, with both the accomplices and kidnappers admitting to how they were brought in and housed. To address the insecurity, the state has engaged 500 forest guards who are undergoing training to secure the forests across the state. Additionally, the Federal Government has recently approved an additional 500 forest guards to support the state's efforts.