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edo state government led by governor
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Monday Ovolo has issued an executive
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order blacklisting a government
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registered acclaimed socioultural
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organization the neolack movement NBM as
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a violent organization among those
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responsible for violent crimes of high
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rates of secret cult related homicide
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killings in the state and in a swift
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reaction the president of the neolack
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movement of Africa NBM Olaroguna seor
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while speaking with a panel of
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presenters at Arise News television
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during the TV program accused the
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governor Monday ovolo of allegedly using
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members of the black axe confraternity
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during his election adding that the
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governor never consulted with them to
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know if members of black axe
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confraternity are also members of the
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neolack movement saying the governor is
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now attacking NBM because of black axe
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stressing that black confraternity is a
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criminal organization insisting that
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members of the confraternity are never
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members of the NBM and shortly after the
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NBM president's statement large group of
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youths in Edeto state led a solidarity
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protest matched to the Edeto state
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government house in Benin City to
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express their support and willingness to
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defend the government policies and
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actions to stop the massive destructions
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of lives and creation of young widows
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and high rates of fatherless children in
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the state due to secret cult activities
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this assessments of some of the
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pro-govern policy protesters indicated
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that some of them are people who may
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have identified themselves in the past
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as members of the neolack movement and
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they also appeared to be people very
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loyal to one of the prominent leaders of
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the NBM anthony Arden aka Tony Kbaka who
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trended when he was interviewed about
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the activities of the NBM in a BBC
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documentary published by the British
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Broadcasting Service some years back
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addressing the progovernment policy
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protesters on Monday at the state
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government house in Benin City Governor
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Monday said he will not listen to any
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form of blackmail and he will continue
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the fight to end insecurity in the state
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in quotes the governor said "Yesterday I
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addressed a peaceful rally by courageous
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Edo youths who like me are tired of the
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senseless killings and destruction
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caused by cultism i told them what I'll
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tell you now every Edeto life matters if
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I had fallen victim to cult violence as
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a young man I wouldn't be here serving
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you today we will continue to act
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decisively no threats no blackmail no
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fear will stop us buildings linked to
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cultism will be demolished criminals
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will be rooted out and together with the
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backing of our determined young people
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we will reclaim our state edo must be
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safe for our families for our future and
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for the investments and opportunities we
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seek to attract this is practical
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governance in action and it will not
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stop also on Monday the state governor
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Monday through the office of the chief
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press secretary Fred Iwa said that
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neolack movement NBM is involved in
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violent crimes in the state hence he
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issued an executive order and revoked
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the certificate of occupancy of land the
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NBM international headquarters was
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situated at a magba area in Benin city
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and ordered the demolition of the house
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the press release reads verbatim "Edo
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state government under the leadership of
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Governor Mandre Obolo has explained and
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given wider clarifications to the new
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anti-kidnapping laws in the state with
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specifications that friend or family
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member of suspected kidnapper or any
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person suspected to have made an attempt
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to kidnap discovering such friend or
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family member to have hidden or provide
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a temporary stay or shelter to the
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criminal suspect with complete disregard
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to the level of innocency such a friend
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or family member may be found to be in
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connection with the crime the new laws
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stipulate 14 years imprisonment with no
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option of fine for such shelter provider
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or providers this the Edeto state
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government published the clarification a
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day after the government demolished a
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house of an elder sister of suspected
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kidnap gang member along college road at
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Aduawa area in Benin City simply because
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the suspect was living in the house
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according to the news reporters
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broadcasted by Ocella television with
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additional information that the elder
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sister of the suspect is not living in
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Nigeria she has been in abroad where she
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has been working and providing financial
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support to her younger brother who got
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himself into the crime of kidnapping
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business for a reward of
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350,000 naira the Edeto state government
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while giving the clarification through
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the office of the press secretary to the
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governor in a news feature in which the
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chief press secretary Fred Iwa titled a
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step-by-step breakdown of new kidnapping
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prohibition law in Edo state said the
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new laws were with stringent principles
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to deter people from going into
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kidnapping and providing any form of aid
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to suspected kidnappers with a view to
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guarantee public safety and restore
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confidence in the law enforcement and
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judicial system in the state in his
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words the governor press secretary said
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in Edo state Governor Monday Obo and
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members of the state house of assembly
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are united in taking a firm stand
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against the escalating threat of
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kidnapping the Edo State House of
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Assembly has passed the kidnapping
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prohibition amendment law 2025
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this amended legislation marks a bold
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legislative milestone aimed at
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tightening the nucon kidnappers their
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accompllices and enablers it reflects a
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sharpened resolve by the government to
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enhance public safety and restore
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confidence in law enforcement and
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judicial systems within the state under
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this amended law the penalties for
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kidnapping have been significantly
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strengthened in what is considered one
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of the most stringent anti-kidnapping
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frameworks in the country the law
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prescribes the death penalty for anyone
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who is directly involved in the act of
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kidnapping where a life is lost for
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cases where victims survive the ordeal a
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convicted kidnapper now faces life
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imprisonment a stern departure from
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lighter sentences in previous enactments
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furthermore the law introduces a minimum
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sentence of 21 years for anyone who aids
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abetss conspires or attempts to commit
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the offense of kidnapping reflecting the
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government's intention to criminalize
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not just the act itself but the entire
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chain of support behind it another
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groundbreaking aspect of the amendment
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is the provision targeting those who
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provide shelter hideouts or logistical
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support to kidnappers such individuals
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regardless of whether they directly
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participated in the crime are now liable
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to a minimum of 14 years imprisonment
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upon conviction edo state police
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commissioner Monday Abonikica has
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cautioned operators of point of sale
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POSOS to be careful while allowing men
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of the Nigeria Police Force NPF in
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unmarked vehicles to transact with them
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with specific instructions that the POS
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operators in the state must henceforth
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demand and keep the official records of
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such policemen or policemen he or she
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decides to do business with before
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initiating any financial transaction
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with the security operatives the
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commissioner of police made this known
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on Thursday after he hosted a group of
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stakeholders in the entertainment
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industry in the state to a meeting held
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at the commissioner's office on Tuesday
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following the massive public outcry
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which include voices from some popular
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entertainment celebrities like Aua Gift
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SOA aka Edo Princess Lawrence Oseno aka
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MC Casino Badamosi Abon Jonathan aka Edo
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Pikin among others who trend on social
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media the allegations of policemen
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constantly harassing and extorting money
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from young Nigerians in the ancient city
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Benin City the Edeto state capital the
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allegations apparently gave further
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sufficient strength to the virtual
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evidence of a white lady seen on social
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media on April 27th 2025 video recording
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group of policemen along the airport
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road in Benin City who allegedly turned
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official roadblock of stop and search to
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prevent crime into a criminal ambush of
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threatening to attack innocent citizens
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probably to rob them at gunpoint by thus
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forcing them to pay them certain amount
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of money through the aid of a posos
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operator also during the week the
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commissioner of police in Edo state held
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a meeting with the state resident
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anti-corruption commissioner of the
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independent corrupt practices and other
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related offenses commission
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ICPCO Primo where both discussed ways to
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curb acts of extortions in the state csp
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Moses Yamu the Edeto State Police
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Command public relations officer in a
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statement made available on Thursday
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stated that the Edeto State Command is
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aware of some social media reports
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alleging policemen involvement in
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certain acts of harassment and/or
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extortion in the state in a deliberate
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effort to checkmate and arrest the
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situation the Edeto state commissioner
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of police CP Monday Agernica FDC has
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mapped out some steps part of which was
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an engagement with social media
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influences in the state held in his
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office on the 13th of May 2025 and
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directed the immediate reform of the
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anti-money laundering unit cp Abonikica
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further directed that henceforth one all
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policemen in the state tactical teams
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area commands and other special teams
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must have their name tags sewn
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permanently on their uniforms two all
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unmarked vehicles used by the
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aforementioned teams must carry stickers
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on the front and both sides of the
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vehicle while on any assignment three
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all POSOS operators in the state are to
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be cautious when transacting with police
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officers in unmarked vehicles they must
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ensure the particulars of such policemen
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are taken for record and reference
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purposes before transacting with them
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these are in addition to the immediate
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retraining of personnel across the state
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including area commands and divisions
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the commissioner of police warned that
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any policeman or team found violating
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these directives would be decisively
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dealt to bringing you the news in a more
