Ekpoma protests and the cost of violence

On January 10, 2026, students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), joined by residents of Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, took to the streets over surge in kidnappings, demanding safety in a community where abductions have become frequent and brazen. Ekpoma, once a relatively peaceful town, has been turned into a notorious kidnap-for-ransom flashpoint, with residents and students living in persistent fear.

Triggered by the kidnapping and killing of a youth on January 9, the initially peaceful demonstration was soon hijacked by hoodlums who blocked the Benin-Abuja highway. They also vandalised property (including parts of the Enogie/Onojie of Ekpoma’s palace), looting shops and markets while assaulting traders and shoppers.

The Edo government alleged diaspora sponsorship of the protests, denying it has anything to do with genuine kidnapping grievances, terming it a staged riot. The Nigeria Police arrested 52 suspects, mainly AAU students in raids conducted at midnight or early morning operations in hostels.

They were arraigned at a State High Court, sitting in Benin City, on charges of malicious damage, armed robbery, and other related offences. They were remanded in Ubiaja Correctional Centre. But following backlash over the blanket arrest and arraignment, Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State ordered the release of “authentic” students of the university.

While Daily Trust notes that the Ekpoma protests highlighted deep frustrations over insecurity, it condemns the violence and vandalism associated with it. Yet, we insist on the protesters right to express their anger at the state of insecurity in the State.

Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) guarantees the right to assemble freely and associate with others for the protection of their interests, including the right to peaceful protest and public demonstration. This right is also supported by Section 39 (freedom of expression) and aligns with Nigeria’s obligations under international instruments like the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The rules guiding protests are also derived from the Police Order Act (1979) which regulates public assemblies and processions though key provisions have been invalidated or limited by the 2007/2008 Court of Appeal decision; the Police Act and judicial interpretations.

But Daily Trust insists that such citizens’ right to peaceful assembly must be exercised responsibly, bereft of any breach of public peace and infringement on others’ rights. Towards this, every protest must avoid blocking roads or infringing on others’ rights on freedom of movement. A situation where protests lead to violence is not part of anyone’s guaranteed fundamental human right and must therefore never be condoned. Thus, the Ekpoma protests crossed the boundary of decency.

Going forward, organisers are encouraged to maintain order, communicate with authorities where possible, and cooperate to prevent hijacking by criminals or hoodlums from hijacking such protests. This has happened repeatedly especially during #EndSARS in October 2020 and #EndBadGovernance in August 2024. Moreover, we urge all protest organisers to first pursue dialogue and maintain clear communication channels with leaders and other stakeholders involved in the issues they are pursuing while working to minimizing risks of violence or criminal activity as they embark on protests. Nigeria has seen enough of several protests that started peacefully but later led to violence, looting, and destruction of property.

Beyond that, because it is the responsibility of the Police to allow protests and maintain law and order while it lasts, we urge the high command to continuously train personnel to ensure proper crowd control while working to guarantee that hoodlums don’t hijack it. The police should pursue intelligence-driven arrests so that only identified perpetrators of violence are under custody. The recourse to mass arrests as happened in the Ekpoma incident should be discarded going forward. After all, under the Police Act and Constitution, it is the duty of the police to protect protesters, provide security and facilitate peaceful assemblies.

We also remind the police that force must be exercised proportionately at all protest venues and deployed only when absolutely necessary and in line with international standards. This means that issues of excessive force, propensity to use tear gas and live ammunition on peaceful crowds should be a thing of the past.

Most importantly, federal, state and local government must realise that the inability to provide security for the citizens reflects a troubling governance failure arising from non-prioritisation of the welfare of citizens. The citizens’ security concerns should be adequately addressed. Protesters must not be made to feel that the state punishes those who highlight failures rather than fixing them. In any case, the security forces’ rush to deploy resources to arrest demonstrators should also be shown in their apprehension of kidnappers.

We believe that all protests must be peaceful, without violence or incitement to violence or the destruction of property or looting. This is because it is not in the interest of the nation’s democracy for any protest to be repressed or obstructed. But all must ensure that protests are held along designated, approved and secured routes, devoid of violence.

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