Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has vowed to personally supervise the execution of anyone convicted of kidnapping, declaring that he would not hesitate to sign a death warrant even if the individual involved were his father or a close family member.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Okpebholo made the declaration in a video shared by TheCable on Tuesday while discussing his administration’s efforts to tackle kidnapping and other security challenges in the state.

The governor said his government was determined to rid society of criminals, arguing that kidnappers had caused the deaths of many innocent people.

He said: “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.

“Because somebody will die. But these people are the ones killing people. How many people have we killed?”

Defending his position, Okpebholo pointed to the suffering, injuries and psychological trauma experienced by victims of kidnapping.

He recalled an incident involving a woman who was allegedly pushed during an abduction attempt, saying the fear and trauma alone could have cost her life.

The governor also spoke about an attack on the state’s Chief Judge, claiming that the judge sustained serious injuries during an encounter with kidnappers and lost the use of one hand.

He said: “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.

“Even our Chief Judge, if you see our Chief Judge, one of his hands was cut off by kidnappers.”

Okpebholo further disclosed that he had contacted the state Attorney-General to enquire about the status of the necessary documents for executing convicted kidnappers.

He said he was awaiting further action but maintained that his administration would continue pursuing the cases through the appeal process.

The governor insisted that nobody convicted of kidnapping would be allowed to escape punishment.

He added: “But we still follow them up on the appeal. 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.

“I stand, if I see this paper today, now, I will sign it and I will even supervise the killing.”

Okpebholo’s comments come amid the implementation of the Edo State Kidnapping Prohibition (Amendment) Law, 2025, which introduced the death penalty for kidnapping offences resulting in the death of victims.

The Edo State House of Assembly passed the amendment in February 2025, and the governor signed it into law later that month.

Under the law, kidnappers whose victims survive the incident face life imprisonment, while those involved in abductions that result in the death of victims face the death penalty.

The legislation also prescribes punishment for individuals who assist, support or encourage kidnapping activities.

In September 2026, four men were sentenced to death by a special criminal court in Edo State over the abduction of a woman at the Vegetable Market along Airport Road in Benin City.

The convicts were identified as Marvellous Isaac, Wisdom Michael, Rufus Emete Michael and Gift Raphael. They were found guilty of the abduction, which occurred on June 14, 2026, alongside other related offences.

Okpebholo had earlier vowed to sign the death warrants of convicted kidnappers who failed to appeal their sentences within the stipulated 30-day period.

As part of his administration’s efforts to address insecurity, the governor also established a special criminal court to fast-track the trial of kidnapping and cultism cases in the state.

Nigerian celebrity chef, Hilda Baci, has reacted to claims that her relationship with her partner, Damilola Akinwunmi, popularly known as Dapper, contributed to her success.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The popular chef expressed concern over the tendency to attribute the achievements of successful women to the men they are dating or married to.

Baci made this known during an interview with Goldmyne TV, where she explained that although such comments do not always make her angry, she finds them upsetting.

According to her, being in a relationship should not give people a reason to question a woman’s abilities or undermine her personal achievements.

She stressed that women deserve recognition for their hard work and individual efforts, regardless of their relationship status.

Speaking during the interview, Baci said: “It is sometimes upsetting but I think that it just goes to show where we are as people and what the mindset is.

“That’s why I’m so intentional about putting in so much effort in representing myself, representing women and just giving more women an opportunity to do better for themselves as well.”

Hilda Baci is in a relationship with Nigerian music executive and entrepreneur Dapper, the founder of Dapper Group.

The couple have been together since before Baci gained international recognition in May 2023, following her achievement of breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has alleged that the Federal Government transferred its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, to Sokoto Prison as part of an attempt to secure votes from the North ahead of the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The group made the allegation in a press statement signed by its spokesperson and Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful.

Powerful claimed that Kanu’s transfer to Sokoto was intended to present him as an ethnic trophy and influence northern voters against political figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

He described Kanu’s trial, conviction and subsequent transfer as a calculated political move to use the IPOB leader as a bargaining chip in northern politics.

However, IPOB claimed that the alleged strategy had backfired, arguing that some Fulani leaders and residents of the North were angered by the development and had rejected what it described as attempts to turn them into instruments of political manipulation.

The group further accused Britain of being complicit in Kanu’s alleged abduction in Kenya and his subsequent extraordinary rendition to Nigeria.

It also accused the British government of disregarding United Nations calls for Kanu’s release, ignoring appellate court decisions discharging him, and allowing what it described as his conviction under repealed laws and the use of harsh legal measures.

IPOB also criticised aspects of the court proceedings, particularly remarks attributed to Justice Omotosho that Kanu “hates the North with a passion”. The group described the statement as a deliberate distortion of its leader’s position.

According to IPOB, Kanu does not hate any ethnic group but is fighting against what it described as a corrupt, neo-colonial structure.

The group reiterated its demand for Kanu’s release, insisting that its agitation remains peaceful and that political negotiations would not stop what it called the eventual triumph of justice.

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