The Edo State High Court sitting as Criminal Court 2 has ordered the remand of several youths arrested in connection with the protest that disrupted parts of Ekpoma, directing that they be held at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre.
The order followed an application by the prosecution, which requested a 14-day remand of the suspects pending further proceedings. Observers at the court noted emotional scenes as some of the protesters and their family members broke down in tears while those arrested were taken into a waiting vehicle after the court session.
The youths were arrested after a demonstration held last weekend by residents of Ekpoma, a town in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State. The protest was organised in response to increasing cases of kidnapping and other security threats in the area.
Footage that circulated widely on social media captured residents in the Edo Central region protesting against the surge in abductions and killings. The video also showed individuals believed to be cattle breeders running from a market after spotting approaching protesters, adding to the tension surrounding the incident.
The Edo State Police Command later stated that it intervened swiftly when the protest was allegedly “hijacked,” leading to unrest. In a statement released on Sunday, the police explained that once the protest began on Saturday, the Area Commander in Ekpoma immediately deployed officers in collaboration with other security agencies to ensure that the demonstration remained peaceful, organised, and lawful.
“Regrettably, the protest was hijacked, and all the rules of peaceful protest were ignored, which led to incidents, including malicious damages, looting of property, vandalisation of shops, as well as a military personnel discharging firearms at a protester,” the statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said.
According to the police, the situation escalated rapidly, prompting the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, to personally lead additional tactical units from the State Command Headquarters in Benin to Ekpoma. The reinforcement was aimed at regaining operational control, restoring order, and preventing further deterioration of the situation.
The police said that through coordinated deployments, strategic positioning, and professional crowd-control measures, calm was restored across the affected areas. It added that individuals involved in acts of “violence, vandalism, and looting” were identified and arrested, while investigations continue to ensure that all those responsible are prosecuted.
The police also confirmed that a man identified as 32-year-old Osagie Abraham was shot during the protest and is currently receiving treatment at a medical facility in Ekpoma. CP Agbonika reportedly visited the injured man and ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
“He has ordered the immediate and thorough investigation of the incident,” the statement said. It further disclosed that the military personnel involved in the shooting had been identified and that the relevant military authorities had been notified for appropriate administrative and disciplinary action in line with established procedures.
The Commissioner of Police reiterated that citizens have a constitutional right to lawful protest and to express grievances freely. However, he emphasised that demonstrations must be conducted peacefully and responsibly, without violating the safety, rights, or property of others.
Addressing the broader security concerns raised by residents, the police assured the public that intensified intelligence-led operations, strategic patrols, and targeted interventions were being deployed to tackle kidnapping and related crimes across Edo State, including Ekpoma.
Beyond the protest, concerns persist among residents over the presence of herders reportedly living deep within communities and accused of attacking villagers. The Convener of the Esan Worldwide Community, Aigbokhan Oseremen, urged the Edo State Government to introduce a permit system for outsiders seeking to reside in rural areas.
“This is what the government should do and they should start doing it now, which is for anybody to reside in our villages or bushes, there should be a kind of permit and those people should be watched,” Oseremen said during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief. He further alleged that “many” of the herders are “real terrorists.”
Responding to these claims, the Edo State Government assured residents that decisive action would be taken soon. The Special Adviser to Governor Monday Okpebholo on Media and Publicity, Bugie Okhuemoi, said security agencies were already implementing technology-driven strategies to address the situation.
“The solution is simple: identify where they are in the forest and dislodge them from there, and technology-driven strategies are being implemented, and very shortly we will see these things come to an end,” Okhuemoi said, adding that several measures had already been activated and that results would soon become evident.
Meanwhile, Governor Monday Okpebholo has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property across Edo State. Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Patrick Ebojele, the governor said substantial investments had been made in modern security equipment, intelligence gathering, and inter-agency collaboration to combat kidnapping, cultism, and other crimes.
He stressed that security operations were ongoing statewide and warned that criminals and their sponsors would not be allowed to destabilise the state. “This administration will not allow criminals or their sponsors to take Edo State hostage. Anyone involved in kidnapping, cultism, or any form of criminality will be tracked down and brought to justice. There will be no hiding place for perpetrators,” he said.
What you should know
The Ekpoma protest highlights growing public frustration over insecurity in parts of Edo State, particularly kidnapping and rural attacks.
While residents insist their demonstration was meant to demand safety, authorities say it was overtaken by violence, leading to arrests and court-ordered remand. The incident has also renewed debates around the presence of herders in communities, security enforcement, and the balance between citizens’ right to protest and public order.
The Edo State Government and security agencies insist that new strategies are already in place to restore peace and address the underlying causes of insecurity.
