Anger over rampant insecurity and a recent murder boiled over in Edo State on Saturday as residents of Ekpoma took drastic action. The community, located in Esan West Local Council, descended on the local livestock market, driving away traders and slaughtering their goats in a violent protest.
Violent Outburst Follows Discovery of Body
The protest was a direct response to the grim discovery on Friday night. The body of a local youth was found in nearby bushes, with residents blaming the killing on suspected kidnappers. This incident became the final straw for a community already living in fear.
Videos that circulated on social media captured the chaotic scene. Youths were seen invading the market, forcing traders to flee for their safety. The protesters killed goats belonging to the traders, with some residents reportedly dragging the slaughtered animals away. The commotion caused cows to wander onto a major road, where they were also beaten by some individuals.
A resident, who asked not to be named, explained that the protest was fueled by deep-seated anger over the deteriorating security situation in Ekpoma. "The rising cases of kidnapping have prevented our farmers from accessing their farms and have created widespread fear among all of us," the source stated. The frustration was so intense that protesters also pulled down campaign billboards for the 2027 general elections.
Government and Police Response to the Crisis
Edo State authorities moved quickly to address the unrest. The State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, condemned the violence and appealed for calm to prevent reprisals in other parts of the state.
Governor Monday Okpebholo was dispatched to Ekpoma to personally address residents and de-escalate tensions. In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Patrick Ebojele, the governor described the incident as a "spontaneous and senseless mob action." He assured residents of his administration's unwavering commitment to security, citing heavy investments in modern equipment, intelligence gathering, and inter-agency collaboration.
"Ongoing security measures were already yielding results in the fight against kidnapping, cultism and other crimes," Governor Okpebholo asserted. He cautioned that security operations were sensitive and warned against exploiting public anger to destabilize the state.
On the police front, the Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, Eno Ikoedem, confirmed that the police were "on top of the security situation." State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, was already in the town. Ikoedem also disclosed a positive development: the Eagle Combat Drone Unit, alongside local hunters, successfully rescued nine persons kidnapped on Friday, all unhurt.
HURIWA Warns of Nationwide Protests Over Insecurity
The incident in Edo has drawn commentary from civil society, highlighting national concerns. The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) commended the Ekpoma residents for demonstrating against what it called "incessant and unprecedented cases of kidnapping for ransom."
In a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, the group sharply criticized the federal government's response to insecurity nationwide. HURIWA denounced attacks on schools and farming communities in the north and accused the government of focusing on the 2027 elections and President Bola Tinubu's re-election amid a "near collapse of the nation’s economy."
The group was particularly critical of President Tinubu's directive to security chiefs to pursue terrorists who recently attacked a Catholic school in Niger State, calling it a weak response. HURIWA issued a stark warning: "No amount of armed attacks on protesters by government-backed forces would stop impending protests if poor governance continues." They predicted nationwide civil protests larger than the 2020 #EndSARS demonstrations if the security challenges are not decisively addressed.
