GTI Backs Edo Governor’s Crackdown on Kidnapping, Cultism, Drug Crimes as Insecurity Threatens Schools, Communities

GTI Backs Edo Governor’s Crackdown on Kidnapping, Cultism, Drug Crimes as Insecurity Threatens Schools, Communities

Nigeria’s worsening security crisis has pushed kidnapping, cultism, and drug-related crimes to the front burner, with citizens and stakeholders demanding tougher laws and enforcement. Analysts say weak penalties have turned abductions into a booming criminal enterprise, emboldened by cases where people even stage their own kidnappings for ransom. Reports of kidnappers running training camps in remote forests have deepened public anxiety.

Weighing in on the crisis, Guard Time Information Human Rights Activists Nationwide, GTI, has thrown its weight behind Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo’s plan to tighten legal measures against kidnapping, cultism, and related offenses. Comrade Bibi Oduku, GTI Chairman, said criminals exploit poor enforcement and public indifference to run kidnapping as a profitable business. He confirmed that GTI’s legal team in Edo is drafting a proposal to offer legal and advocacy backing to the state’s anti-crime drive, working with journalists, civil groups, and concerned residents.

Oduku also faulted the spread of false security alarms, warning that misinformation fuels panic and weakens trust in authorities. He called on citizens to support the Edo State Government and security agencies in tackling kidnapping, cultism, drug abuse, and other threats to national stability.

On the impact on education, Professor Adegbenga Onabamiro, speaking for GTI’s institutional development unit, said insecurity has hit schools hard. Lecturers, students, and administrators have been targeted by kidnappers, disrupting teaching, research, and academic growth across Nigeria. He urged federal and state governments, communities, and individuals to close ranks against insecurity. His proposal: build intelligence-driven security networks that link schools with host communities, the police, and the military for faster emergency response.

Onabamiro stressed that unless insecurity is curbed, educational institutions will remain restricted, undermining learning quality and national development.

Addressing a disturbing trend, Barrister Confidence O. Agbator, GTI’s Head of Legal Affairs for Edo State Civil Matters, warned against staged kidnappings for financial gain. She appealed to parents and community leaders to hand over anyone involved in crime instead of shielding them. Communities that harbor criminals, she said, put their own peace at risk. She also urged vigilance, noting that informants for criminal gangs often live within neighborhoods, monitoring potential victims.

In his closing remarks, Comrade Oduku charged Governor Okpebholo to stay firm in rolling out policies and laws against kidnapping, cultism, drug trafficking, and other crimes. Decisive action, he said, is critical to protect lives, rebuild public trust, and secure lasting peace and development in Edo State and across Nigeria.

GTI Human Rights Activists Nationwide