The Edo State Government on Saturday, March 11, 2023, flagged off an operation to rid forests in Owan West Local Government Area of kidnappers and murderers.
The State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki announced this on Sunday during a church service at Sabongida Ora where he condemned recent attacks on farming communities, emphasising that Edo has a law that prohibits open grazing which will be implemented to its fullest.
Obaseki arrived Sabongida Ora on Sunday morning in the company of his Chief of Staff, Hon. Toni Iyoha, and some government officials to worship at the St Johns Cathedral Anglican Church Diocese which he attended frequently as a schoolboy when he lived with his grandmother.
He opened his speech by saying: “I will not be governor and leave you unprotected. Security is our first concern.
Then went on to say: “I began an operation yesterday combing out all the herdsmen in our forests around Sobe.
“In Edo we have prohibited open grazing and we will make sure we implement that law to its fullest. Our people must be protected and feel safe so that they can go to their farms and carry out their activities in peace and safety.”
Addressing the hardships suffered by citizens as a result of Federal Government policies, Mr Obaseki urged the congregants to have hope, noting that the inflation, very high food prices, fuel scarcity, and the scarcity of naira notes are problems caused by the President Muhammadu Buhari government and that the state government is doing the best it can to reduce the pains Edo residents are living with.
“In all the challenges we face as a country, we must continue to have hope, things are very difficult, inflation, very high food prices, as if that wasn’t enough, you can’t even have access to your money in the bank anymore.
“As a government, we know that you are suffering, and we know that things are difficult and we are trying our best as a State Government to see what we can do.
“The State Government did not create these problems. You all know that I was one of the first to raise the alarm that they were printing money” he said.
Mr Obaseki also visited Sobe where he assured the people of improved Government attention.
