The Commissioner of Police in Edo, CP Lawan Jimeta, has tasked politicians to embrace peace and stop breaching security in the state.
Jimeta gave the charge on Wednesday in Benin at the maiden edition of stakeholders meeting organised by the command ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
According to him, a tumultuous situation will scare away development for the state and people.
“We are concerned with certain incidences that happened in the state.
“This includes but not limited to thuggery, lawlessness and the recent development which involves the use of explosives.
“The use of explosives is definitely a worrisome development not only in Edo state but all over the country. So it is our responsibility as security operatives to ensure that these ugly situations are not repeated.
“We can only do so by meeting with the stakeholders so that you can talk to your supporters that violence does not bring any development and does not guarantee political success.
“Violence can only bring destruction and hardship to our people. We want to say categorically that peace and security of this state will remain professionally in our hands.
“We will ensure that anybody that breaks the law is brought to book.
We on our part will ensure that we are truthful and professional in whatever we do to ensure that there is peace and security in Edo,” he said.
He appealed to Edo residents that these meeting would continue in order to enure a peaceful election and to ensure people are not disenfranchised.
Similarly, the Director of State Service in the state, Mr Sheikh Waziri disclosed that from the service intelligent purview, the indicators in the state were very frightening.
He noted that the service have intelligence of mobilisations from even neighbouring states, of individuals that could come and cause mayhem within the state.
“We have information which is in the public domain, Edo is the next in line in the series of election in the country.
“The entire world is watching. Edo is on the watch of the international community already, the EU, the AU, the Americans, the British are all coming around expressing their fears.
“Even foreign investors and local investors are expressing these fears.
“We believe that we should share ideas and information with stakeholders on how to handle security of the state and maintain peace and order.
“Let me also observe that of recent, Edo has been witnessing series of attacks, as we talk now, some technical teams are moving around the three senatorial districts of Edo to interface with stakeholders in resolving the issue of herdsmen farmers clash.
“You are aware that, on a daily basis, there are issues of kidnapping. We want at this forum to get to the content of the problem by addressing political problems politically so that the security agencies will have the resources, manpower and time to deal with security challenges”, he said.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all the security agencies, service chiefs in the state as well as representatives from the two faction of the APC in the state were present at the meeting