The Edo State High Court, Criminal Court 2, has ordered the remand of several youths arrested over the protest that erupted in the Ekpoma area of the state at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre.
The order followed a request by the prosecution seeking a 14-day remand of the suspects.
Our correspondent reports that emotional scenes played out at the court premises as some protesters and their relatives broke down in tears while those arrested were taken away in a waiting vehicle.
The protest, which took place last weekend, was organised by youths angered by the rising cases of kidnapping and other security threats in Ekpoma, located in Esan West Local Government Area.
A viral video circulating online showed residents in Edo Central protesting kidnappings and killings in the area. The footage also captured individuals suspected to be cattle breeders fleeing a market on sighting the protesters.
Protest Was Hijacked — Police
The police said they intervened swiftly after the protest was “hijacked”.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the command explained that once the protest began on Saturday, the Area Commander in Ekpoma immediately deployed officers in collaboration with other security agencies to ensure the demonstration remained peaceful 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, partly read.
Following the escalation, the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, led additional tactical teams from the state headquarters in Benin to Ekpoma to restore order and prevent further breakdown of law and order.
According to the police, coordinated deployments and professional crowd-control measures helped to quickly restore calm across affected areas. The command added that those involved in acts of “violence, vandalism, and looting” were identified and arrested, while investigations were ongoing.
Youth Shot
The police also confirmed that the Commissioner of Police visited a 32-year-old man, Osagie Abraham, who was shot during the protest and is currently receiving treatment at a medical facility in Ekpoma.
“He has ordered the immediate and thorough investigation of the incident.
“Meanwhile, the military personnel involved in the shooting incident has been identified, while the appropriate military authorities have been formally notified for necessary administrative and disciplinary action in line with established protocols.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, reiterates that it is the constitutional right of citizens to engage in lawful protest and freely express their grievances.
“However, such protests must always be conducted peacefully, responsibly, and without infringing on the rights, safety, and property of other members of the public,” the statement added.
Addressing concerns over kidnapping, the police assured residents that intensified intelligence-led operations, patrols, and targeted interventions were being deployed across Edo State, including Ekpoma.
Insecurity Concerns
Some residents have expressed fears over the presence of herders allegedly settled 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 settle in local communities.
“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 interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
He further alleged that “many” of the herders are “real terrorists”.
Government Response
Responding, the state government said decisive action was underway.
“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,” the Special Adviser to Governor Monday Okpebholo on Media and Publicity, Bugie Okhuemoi, said.
“There are serious strategies on the ground and in place that will be activated very soon. In fact, they have already been activated, but in a very short while, we will see the effect,” he added.
Meanwhile, Governor Monday Okpebholo has reassured residents of the state’s commitment to protecting lives and property, declaring that there would be “no hiding place for perpetrators” of kidnapping, cultism, or other crimes.
He said his administration had invested heavily in modern security equipment, intelligence gathering, and inter-agency collaboration to confront criminal elements and restore lasting peace across Edo State.