Okpebholo Promises to Sign Death Warrant for Kidnappers, Even Family

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has promised to sign the death warrant for anyone found guilty of kidnapping in the state. This includes his own father. He stated he would personally oversee the execution to tackle the rising insecurity in Edo.

Okpebholo said family ties would not stop him from signing off on the execution of convicted kidnappers. He believes the state must get rid of criminals causing trouble. "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," he stated.

The governor spoke in a video shared by TheCable on Tuesday. This was during his administration's push to enforce the Edo State Kidnapping Prohibition (Amendment) Law, 2025. This law calls for capital punishment for certain kidnapping crimes.

He also confirmed that he would personally oversee the execution of guilty offenders. "I stand, if I see this paper today, now, I will sign it and I will even supervise the killing," he said.

Okpebholo justified his decision by highlighting the trauma that victims face. He referenced a woman who was reportedly pushed during a kidnapping attempt. He also mentioned an attack on the state's chief judge, who suffered serious injuries, including damage to one of his hands.

"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," he said. "Even our chief judge, if you see our Chief Judge, one of his hands was cut off by kidnappers," he added.

The governor said he has reached out to the state attorney-general to check the status of the documents needed for the execution of convicted kidnappers. He emphasized that his government would also follow through on appeals to ensure that those convicted do not escape justice.

"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," he stated.

Okpebholo's latest comments reinforce his earlier threats to execute convicted kidnappers in the state. PREMIUM TIMES reported on 23 October that he would sign the death warrants for four men sentenced to death by an Edo State Special Criminal Court if they did not appeal their convictions within 30 days.

The four men, Marvellous Isaac, Wisdom Michael, Rufus Emete Michael, and Gift Raphael, received the death sentence on 29 September for kidnapping a woman at the Vegetable Market along Airport Road in Benin City. The governor expressed hope that the convicts would not appeal their sentences, adding that he would move forward with the executions if they did not appeal within the given time.

The Edo State House of Assembly passed the Kidnapping Prohibition (Amendment) Law in February 2025, and Okpebholo signed it into law later that month. The law introduced tougher penalties for kidnapping, including capital punishment, to fight insecurity in the state.

Okpebholo's administration also set up a special criminal court to speed up the prosecution of kidnapping and cultism cases.