Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has accused some residents of travelling to other states to recruit criminals for kidnapping, armed robbery, and other crimes in Edo.

Mr Okpebholo made the allegation on Wednesday in Benin while speaking at the 2026 Ministers’ Conference organised by the Edo Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

He said the gathering was meant to discuss insecurity in Edo and Nigeria. He also claimed that most reports on social media about insecurity are false.

According to the governor, he once received a report about an incident along Sapele Road and directed security to immediately storm the area, only to find out that it wasn't true.

“Our people now recruit criminals to help them do the job, they'll kidnap somebody and hand over to the people in the bush,” Mr Okpebholo said.

“Tomorrow you'll see them driving expensive cars, building houses, how are they getting these things, they'll tell you they're Yahoo Boys.

“They're these, they're that, if you hear that we've arrested somebody, don't come to beg me.”

The governor said some insecurity reports are designed to bring his government down and give it a bad name. He acknowledged that insecurity exists but said false alarms are a separate problem.

Mr Okpebholo revealed that volunteers are now positioned in forests to prevent criminals from settling in Edo.

He also asked the congregation to pray for President Bola Tinubu, saying the president's decision to remove fuel subsidy was necessary and responsible for the infrastructural development happening across Edo.

Margaret Agbonifo, a pastor and chairperson of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria in Edo, praised the governor for his commitment to God's work and thanked God for Nigeria.

“Nigeria is alive today is to the glory of God. Thank God for showing us mercy, the enemy doesn't want to hear the name Nigeria again but by the mercy of God, we shall overcome all our current challenges,” she said.

Ms Agbonifo prayed that insurgency wouldn't end the country and that Mr Okpebholo would finish strong and leave Edo better than he met it.

“You'll be the best among all the governors that have ruled Edo, you won't fail. The Lord will strengthen you. Edo won't tell a bad story about you,” she added.

Alfred Agbonlahor, a cleric and vice chairman of CAN in Edo, commended the governor for the ongoing construction work on the Benin-Sapele Road.

Mr Okpebholo, a member of the All Progressives Congress, was elected governor in September 2024. He has repeatedly made security a priority, but crime — especially kidnapping — remains a major concern in the state.

Edo shares borders with Delta, Ondo, Kogi, and Anambra states, making it a transit hub. The governor's claim that criminals are being brought in from other states suggests a cross-border dimension to the problem.

The governor didn't name which states the recruits are coming from or provide evidence for his claims.