By Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN — IN order to tackle criminality more effectively in Edo State, the state government in collaboration with the 18 local governments councils in the state, weekend, presented 18 Toyota Hilux vans to the joint military/police patrol tagged, Operation Thunderstorm.
Speaking at the presenta-tion, Governor Adams Oshiomhole said the gesture was a manifestation of government’s resolve to tackle headlong criminal activities in the state.

The governor expressed joy that the efforts of the joint military and  police patrol were yielding results in the state, with the arrest of about 100 kidnappers so far, adding that “through our joint efforts, we have made decisive impact in crime fighting.

“There is no doubt that your effort is already paying off and the state is becoming safer. We realise that we have made that level of impact in so short a time.

“We are convinced that with additional logistics by way of vehicles and commu-nication gadgets, Operation Thunderstorm can make even greater impact.”

Oshiomhiole pointed out that it was in appreciation of the need to contain the criminal tendencies that the local government councils were encouraged to collaborate with government to procure additional logistics to be put at the disposal of the joint patrol team.

He urged the chairman of the team to fast-track the process of deploying the vehicles in the eighteen local government areas, noting that criminals move to the rural areas when they are driven away from Benin.

Responding, chairman of the joint patrol team, Brigadier-General Ugwu Chima thanked the government for providing additional logistics for the team and pledged that they would  rededicate themselves to ensuring a crime-free state.