Edo govt declares over 200 vehicles missing, recovers diverted palliatives

The chairman of the committee set up by Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo to recover government vehicles, Kelly Okungbowa, has declared over 200 vehicles missing.

Okungbowa declared this in Benin, the Edo State capital, on Friday, November 22, 2024.

Okungbowa said the committee had within 24 hours recovered three vehicles in a private residence in Benin.

The chairman, who spoke to newsmen on the success of the committee’s assignment, said within 24 hours three vehicles including one Hilux van and two Toyota Hiace buses were recovered.

He disclosed that in one of the Toyota Hiace buses, the committee recovered some palliatives which were meant to have been distributed to the people of Edo State.

The chairman added that the palliatives included bags of garri and rice.

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

Okungbowa assured whistleblowers that a handsome reward would be given provided their information was correct and verifiable.

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He said: “Yesterday (Thursday), we were inaugurated and 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.

“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.

“This is not private property but the property of Edo citizens and it is not good for a private individual to steal government property.”

Okungbowa urged former government officials and other citizens holding back government vehicles to return them within 48 hours.

The Star