Edo State Declares Over 200 Government Vehicles Missing Under Ex-Governor Obaseki, Recovers Stolen Palliatives Inside Bus

The Edo State government has reported that more than 200 vehicles are currently missing under the administration of former governor Godwin Obaseki.

It had been reported on Thursday that a 12-member committee was set up by Governor Monday Okpebholo to recover all vehicles belonging to the Edo State Government which were said to be in the hand of the immediate past governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki and his aides.

Okpebholo had appointed Kelly Okungbowa to lead the committee as he gave them two weeks to deliver on its mandate and ensure that the government vehicles in private hands are fully recovered and subsequently returned to the state government.

Okungbowa who spoke to journalists after 24 hours said three vehicles including one Hilux van and two Toyota Hiace buses had been recovered.

According to him, in one of the Toyota Hiace buses, the committee recovered some palliatives which was meant to have been shared to Edo people. He added that the palliatives include bags of garri and rice of 10kg and 25kg.

He appealed for more information from members of the public, saying it was the information earlier obtained that led to the recovery of the three vehicles.

Okungbowa also assured whistleblowers that a handsome reward awaits them provided their information is correct and verifiable.

He said; "Yesterday, we were inaugurated, we promised to follow the law to carry out the mandate of Mr Governor which is to recover all missing government vehicles in private hands. We are glad to inform the people of Edo State that we have recorded success within 24 hours of our inauguration.

'I am glad to announce to you that we have recovered one Hilux and two Toyota Hiace buses in private custody. You see that within 24 hours that we have made success and recovered some vehicles.

"We assure Edo people and the State Government that we are going to do the job to the best of our ability. We will make sure we recover all the stolen vehicles.

"Reports reaching us is that we have over 200 government vehicles missing. We appeal for more information as the whistleblowers will be handsomely rewarded.

"This is not private property but the property of Edo citizens and it is not good for a private individual to steal government property. These vehicles were recovered from one person's house. Palliatives were recovered from the Toyota Hiace bus as some garri and bags of rice where kept in the bus.

"We are just wondering how many will be in the Houses of former government officials like the Chief of Staff, SSG and so-called Deputy Governor which is not known by law.

"We appeal to former government officials and other citizens holding back government vehicles to return the vehicles within 48 hours. Information is key as these three vehicles recovered this morning was as a result of information.

"We need more information as we are moving to other places where we have been informed that government vehicles are parked. There have not been resistance so far because security agencies are backing our operations."