Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has disbanded the State Security Network (ESN) established by former Governor Godwin Obaseki, citing alleged politicization of the security outfit. The governor made this known during the passing out parade of 1,472 members of the newly reorganized State Security Corps at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) permanent camp in Okada, Ovia North East Local Government Area.

Governor Okpebholo, represented by his Deputy, Dennis Idahosa, explained that his administration had reorganized and restructured the Security Corps to embrace professionalism and enhance collaboration with security agencies in fighting criminality across the state.

Reasons for Disbandment and Restructuring

"Regrettably, the activities of the former Corps were politicized, and it lacked professionalism. Hence, I decided to reorganize and restructure the Corps to meet set objectives," Okpebholo stated.

The governor expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Army for training the Corps, describing the initiative as a demonstration of his government's commitment to combating criminality and ensuring safety across Edo State. He emphasized that security remains one of the key elements of his administration's five-point agenda.

New Legal Framework and Management

The newly established Edo State Security Corps is backed by the Edo State Security Corps Governance Law 2024. According to the governor, the Corps will assist the police in intelligence gathering and low-level operations to combat crime in the state.

"My administration has established a management board to oversee the affairs of the Corps to promote discipline and welfare. The activities of the Corps would be highly monitored, and profiling is ongoing to identify those who are fit to serve in the Corps," he added.

Training and Deployment

The Chairman of the reorganizing committee of Edo State Security Corps, Gen. Cecil Esekhaigbe (rtd), represented by Major Gen. Victor Ebhaleme (rtd), revealed that the training commenced on May 22, 2025. Personnel were recruited from all 13 local government areas across the three Senatorial Districts of Edo State.

Esekhaigbe clarified that the Corps were not trained to operate independently but to support other security agencies in maintaining peace in the state.

"With this training, the Corps is ready to support other security agencies to combat crimes and other security challenges. We expect a high level of discipline and performance during and after the rigorous training," he stated.

The passing out parade marks a significant milestone in the state's security architecture, as the restructured Corps is expected to make a substantial impact in addressing complex security emergencies across Edo State.