Navigating Ekpoma’s Unrest: Why Governor Okpebholo Deserves Our Support In Building A Safer Edo

“Even if it were my own father involved in kidnapping, violence, or destruction, he would be brought to justice. No one is above the law” – Monday Okpebholo....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Friends and fellow Edo indigenes, let’s talk about what’s been happening in Ekpoma. As someone who’s lived through the ups and downs of our state’s security challenges, my heart goes out to the residents, students at Ambrose Alli University (AAU), and families who’ve felt the sting of kidnappings and fear.

No one should have to live like that—worrying about loved ones on the roads or in their hostels.
The protest on January 10 came from a deep, genuine place of pain: rising abductions that have torn lives apart and created an atmosphere of dread. I’ve heard the heartbreaking stories, and I completely understand why people felt compelled to speak out. It’s valid, it’s human, and it’s something we all want addressed urgently.

It’s heartbreaking, and it’s okay to demand better.But here’s where we need to pause and look at the full picture. What began as a peaceful call for action got twisted by a handful of troublemakers.

Shops looted, vehicles smashed, and even the sacred palace of our Onojie, His Royal Highness Zaiki Anthony Abumere II, vandalized— that’s not protest; that’s chaos hurting our own community. Millions in damages to local traders and our cultural heritage? That’s the last thing Ekpoma needs when we’re already fighting external threats like kidnappers hiding in the bushes.

Now, the backlash against Governor Monday Okpebholo and his team? I understand the anger, especially with arrests of about 52 folks, many alleged to be  AAU students, and that 14-day remand by the High Court. Social media is buzzing with claims of “midnight raids” and heavy-handed tactics.

However, it is important to put things in proper perspective. Security agencies maintain that the arrests were not indiscriminate, but based on intelligence linking specific individuals to the violent incidents that occurred on the sidelines of the protest.

The matter is now before the court, where due process is underway. Each case will be assessed on its own merit, and the judicial process will determine who is cleared and who faces charges. The objective, according to security authorities, is to protect the community while ensuring that innocent persons are not unfairly punished.

Governor Okpebholo isn’t sitting idle. As an Esan man with roots in this very area—where he won big in the elections—he feels this personally. He visited the Onojie’s palace right away, condemning the attack and promising support.

His administration has been pumping resources into security: tech upgrades, joint ops with federal forces, and cracking down on kidnap rings across Edo. Remember those recent rescues? That’s real progress. Nationally, even President Tinubu is redirecting efforts to hotspots like ours.

In Ekpoma, key access roads are being rehabilitated to limit the movement of criminal networks, while community-based security structures are being strengthened to improve early reporting and rapid response.

Although some groups have expressed concerns or questioned the timing of these efforts, officials emphasize that the focus is not on political rivalry but on collective safety and long-term stability for everyone who lives, studies or trades in the area.

The true villains are the kidnappers and opportunists exploiting our fears. By focusing on them, not finger-pointing, we can heal. Markets are back open, life is normalizing, thanks to quick action.To the youth and students: Your energy is Edo’s strength. Let’s channel it into dialogue—town halls, hotlines for tips, scholarships, and skills programs that the governor is pushing.

We’re in this together for a safer, brighter Edo.

Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah is the Principal and CEO of Bush Radio Academy.