The response of law enforcement agencies and government authorities to the recent protest in Ekpoma, Edo State, against persistent kidnappings in the town and its environs has been troubling and raises serious concerns. Rather than acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the authorities appear to be in denial of criminal activities that have subjected residents to constant fear and insecurity. This posture does little to address a kidnapping scourge that has become widespread across the country.
Instead of dismissing public concerns, governments at all levels should fully mobilise security agencies and launch a coordinated, decisive offensive against kidnapping and banditry.
On January 10, the university town of Ekpoma drew national attention following a mass protest by residents and university students against the rising cases of abduction in the area. The protest, which spread across the town, was met with force by security agencies, leading to the arrest and detention of protesters in circumstances widely viewed as a violation of their rights.
More than 52 students were arrested and taken to the Ubiaja Correctional Centre, prompting condemnation from observers and human rights advocates. Many questioned why security agencies that had failed to protect residents resorted to arresting peaceful protesters in late-night raids. The Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo, later ordered the release of the detainees.
However, the governor alleged that the protest was orchestrated by external forces. In his words, “This was not a students’ protest …The kidnapping they are talking about is fake. It was stage-managed. They were arranging to kidnap and release themselves…These are people who are no longer students but are hanging around the school, causing trouble and extorting students. We will put an end to that.”
Despite the release of the protesters, Collins Aigbogun, former Chairman of Esan West Local Government and Special Adviser to the Governor on youth mobilisation, remains in detention over allegations of masterminding the protest—an action many residents view as unjust, given their lived reality under the threat of kidnappers.
While public outrage over the Ekpoma situation was yet to subside, Southern Kaduna again became the focus of national concern. On January 18, no fewer than 177 worshippers and residents were abducted from Kurmin Wali community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Although some victims escaped, many were taken into the forest.
The violence continued on January 31 when terrorists attacked Ugom Community in Maro Ward, also in Kajuru Local Government Area, resulting in casualties, including Mr Agola Hassan, Mr Samson Lawal, and Elder Mr Baba Apolo. These incidents have deepened fear and despair among residents, who question when the cycle of abduction and killings will end.
Nigeria’s security challenges continue to escalate despite repeated assurances from the government. What began as a low-intensity insurgency in the North-East, driven by Boko Haram, has evolved into widespread banditry in the North-West and has now spread to the southern parts of the country. Communities have been pillaged, with countless residents killed or abducted.
These criminal activities date back to 2009, following the extrajudicial killing of Boko Haram leader Mohammed Yusuf. More than a decade later, the crisis persists, taking on increasingly complex religious and political dimensions.
In Ekpoma, residents insist that the pattern of kidnappings is well known, making claims of ignorance by security agencies untenable. Rather than tackling the criminal networks, security forces focused their operations on students, conducting dawn raids on hostels and private residences. Many residents believe law enforcement is preoccupied with targeting so-called “yahoo boys” while kidnappers operate with impunity. Disturbingly, locals can identify areas such as Olelo-Erah, near Emaudo in Owan West, where ransom payments are allegedly made, raising questions about why sting operations have not been carried out. Restoring security in Edo Central Senatorial District, where Ekpoma is located, will require intelligence-driven policing and decisive leadership from the police hierarchy.
Similarly, in the Kurmin Wali abduction, both the state government and security agencies initially denied the incident. Reports indicate that Kaduna’s police commissioner dismissed the abduction as false until the national police spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed it. Although Governor Uba Sani pledged to protect lives and property, residents lamented that the police presence amounted only to documenting victims rather than providing lasting security.
All tiers of government must confront the growing insecurity and the thriving abduction economy. A National Bureau of Statistics report released in late 2024 revealed that Nigerians paid an estimated N2.23 trillion (about $1.41 billion) in ransom between May 2023 and April 2024. The same report indicated that within the same period, 614,937 Nigerians were killed and 2,235,954 kidnapped.
Despite attempts by government agencies and interest groups to dispute these figures, the reality remains stark for citizens living under constant threat. Governance, at its core, is about safeguarding lives and property. Nigeria urgently needs more decisive, transparent, and concrete action to stem this national crisis, which continues to spread across the country. Under the present circumstances, only the most risk-tolerant investors would consider doing business in the country.
