The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has pledged to sustain partnership with security agencies in the state to ensure improved security of lives and property of citizens of the state.

According to Mr Crusoe Osagie, the Special Adviser on Media Projects to the governor, it was gathered that Obaseki, while reviewing the state’s security situation for the month of May, said the ban on motorcycles in the Benin metropolis was still in force.

The review came after a joint security meeting with representatives of various security agencies in the state.

Obaseki said, “The ban on motorcycles in the main city is still in force. We only allowed tricycles in and around Semi-Urban areas. Motorcycles can still be used in rural areas where the road network is not as good as that of the city and that is the position in the state today.

“The bulk of the accidents that we are seeing is not from the city. We are witnessing them on the federal roads, particularly in the Ovia area and around Agbede and Ewu area. Those are the main areas where we experienced accidents because those roads are not quite motorable.

“We also noticed that there was a slight increase in reported drug cases. Kidnapping cases were stable for the month. We also witnessed a slight increase in armed robbery, which was not totally unconnected with political activities during the period.”

“The security situation in the state is fair. The cooperation level amongst the security agencies in the state continues to be very good and that is why we’ve been able to control the situation within the state,” he added.

On his part, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abutu Yaro, said, “Edo is now very, very safe under the watch of the governor of the state. It’s ready for business and ready for leisure, and at all times, the synergy of the security architecture of the state is second to none. You are all reassured that the best is yet to come.”

Punch/Taiwo Akinola