The governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Friday reinstated the suspended Edo State Security Network, (ESSN) a creation of the immediate past governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki, after over two months of being in limbo. The ban was pronounced by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the state amidst disturbing wave of political violence which claimed the life of a police inspector, Akor Onuh, attached to Senator Okpebholo, then governorship candidate of the All-Progressives Congress (APC). Governor Okpebholo had been under pressure to reinstate the security corps due to surging insecurity in the state, especially cult wars. Recall that the suspension was pronounced by Egbetokun September 11, 2024, at a political stakeholders’ meeting in Benin City organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) ahead of the governorship election to prevent the ESSN or any other private security organisation from playing any role. IGP Egbetokun had insisted that the task of securing voters and electoral materials rested squarely on the police and supported by other security agencies to ensure a credible election. He therefore announced that “no private or state-owned security apparatus would be allowed to operate during and after the election”, adding that “All quasi-security operatives in Edo State should refrain from participating in the Edo election. Activities of the Edo Security Network have been suspended”. But the governor said on Friday that he was bringing back the ESSN to fortify the security architecture of the state. A statement by the chief press secretary to the governor, Fred Itua, said the decision marked a comprehensive shift in the state’s quest for enhanced safety and security. According to Itua, “The suspension, which was initiated by the Inspector General of Police ahead of the September 21, 2024, Gubernatorial Election, was based on the constitutional stipulation that election security is the sole responsibility of the Nigeria Police Force, assisted by other sister agencies within the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES). “However, with the successful conduct of the gubernatorial election, the Edo State Government has deemed it necessary to reinstate the Security Corps. “This move aims to bolster the state’s security apparatus and ensure the safety of its citizens. “As part of the reinstatement process, all returning officers are required to report to the office of the State Corps Commander or their respective zonal offices (North, Central, South) of the Corps”. The statement said this directive aimed to ensure a seamless transition and the effective deployment of the Security Corps. Secretary to the Edo State Government, Umar Musa Ikilor, had in a statement, emphasised government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of its citizens. Obaseki, a few days after the election, had asked the security outfit to return to work, as part of effort to tackle the security challenges in the state.
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