Senator Ikpea Hails Okpebholo Over Swift School Closures After DSS Alert

The senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Joseph Ikpea, has commended Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo, for what he described as swift and proactive action in closing some secondary schools following a security red alert issued by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The closure, which affected schools in parts of Akoko Edo Local Government Area, was ordered after the DSS reportedly warned of a planned attack on schools by suspected bandits, raising concerns over potential abductions of students.

In a statement he endorsed in Benin, Edo State capital, and made available to journalists, Senator Ikpea said the governor demonstrated “uncommon leadership” and a clear understanding of governance priorities by prioritising the safety of students over routine academic activities.

He said, “I want to commend His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Executive Governor of our dear state, Edo State, for the prompt decision he took yesterday by closing down three different secondary schools in the Akoko Edo Area of the state following the security alert raised by the Department of State Security that some undesirable elements in our society were planning to attack some schools in Edo North Senatorial District with a view to kidnapping our children.

“The decision by the Governor Okpebholo to act swiftly when he got the information goes to show his good and uncommon leadership and understanding of the principle of governance which stipulates that the government must seek the wellbeing of the people at all times.

“There is no doubt the decision to close the school at this period comes with its pain given that students across the nation are writing one national or sub-continental examination, it is just ideal that the governor closed the schools instead of waiting for the evil act to be perpetrated.”

Senator Ikpea further urged Nigerians, particularly constituents in Edo Central, to remain vigilant and treat security as a shared responsibility rather than solely a government obligation.

“It is pertinent at this juncture to call on Nigerians to be more vigilant. The issue of security, given the development in our dear nation today, has gone beyond it being the exclusive preserve of the government. All citizens must be involved and take the matter as part of their civic responsibilities to the Nigerian State,” he said.

He also cautioned against complacency in interpreting the security advisory, stressing that threats of kidnapping are not limited by geographical boundaries within the state.

“I want to appeal to the people of Edo Central not to consider the alert as raised by the Department of State Security as the problem of Edo North Senatorial District because the security advisory did not mention Edo Central.

“It is obvious that the undesirable elements responsible for this dastardly act of kidnapping don’t discriminate against tribe and region. Therefore, our people must be conscious of their environment, study all strange faces that come into their neighbourhood and take the bold step by reporting any strange activity around them to security agents and the authorities concerned. We should not wait till it happens before we act,” he stated.

Senator Ikpea also commended the DSS and other security agencies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, for their collaboration with the state government in responding to emerging threats.

He pledged continued support for security initiatives aimed at improving safety across Edo State, noting that intelligence-driven policing and inter-agency cooperation remain critical to preventing attacks on vulnerable communities.

In a leaked memo from the Edo State Command of the DSS addressed to the NSCDC, the intelligence agency said it had uncovered a plan by suspected criminals to abduct students in public schools in Edo North Senatorial District.

The document further alleged that a communication between two suspects planning the operation had been intercepted, and that one individual had already been arrested after being found within a public school in the area, reportedly on a surveillance mission.