Rita Enemuru, Reporting
THE Edo State Government has defended its restriction on motorcycle operations in the Benin metropolis, saying the measure was introduced primarily to address growing security concerns and protect residents.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, stated this on Thursday while briefing journalists in Benin City.
Afegbua explained that intelligence and security reports received by the government had raised concerns over the use of motorcycles, popularly known as Okada, in criminal activities, including kidnapping and robbery.
According to him, some criminal elements allegedly use motorcycles to pick up unsuspecting passengers before taking them to isolated locations, where they dispossess them of their valuables.
“We are not pretending about it. The reason why this was done was purely for security reasons. The kind of reports we receive daily has become a security concern to us,” Afegbua said.
He added that the government would continue to prioritise the safety of residents in making decisions concerning transportation and public security.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Eugenia Abdallah, disclosed that more than 70 cases of child defilement were recorded in Edo State between January and July 2026.
She said fathers of the victims were allegedly responsible for more than half of the reported cases, with the victims predominantly children between the ages of two and 10.
Abdallah disclosed that one of the victims currently under the state’s care is a 14-year-old girl who is eight months pregnant after allegedly being sexually abused by her father.
She said the case was brought to the attention of the ministry by a neighbour.
According to the commissioner, the girl initially claimed that her father was dead and pleaded with authorities not to arrest him, despite being the only person capable of providing information about his whereabouts.
Abdallah reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to protecting vulnerable citizens and ensuring that survivors of abuse receive appropriate support.
She said the government would continue to strengthen social-protection initiatives, empower women economically and ensure that interventions for vulnerable groups produce measurable results.
