A sweeping security crackdown has restored calm to Ekpoma after joint forces arrested and arraigned 52 suspects accused of hijacking a peaceful protest and unleashing a wave of violence that rattled Edo State’s Esan West Local Government Area.
In response to the unrest, the Edo State Police Command deployed a large joint security task force to the town, led personally by the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc. The operation, authorities said, was aimed at quelling criminal activity masquerading as civil agitation and preventing a further breakdown of law and order.
The police action brought together personnel from the Nigerian Army’s 4 Brigade, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC) and local hunters, forming a coordinated security ring across Ekpoma to flush out criminal elements and address lingering kidnapping threats.
According to the Command, investigations revealed that what began as a peaceful protest was quickly hijacked by hoodlums who embarked on a violent spree. Fifty-two suspects were subsequently arrested and charged with a range of offences, including assault, vandalism, rioting and looting.
Among the most serious allegations is the forcible invasion of the palace of the Enogie of Ekpoma, His Royal Highness Anthony Ehizogie Abumere. Police said the suspects allegedly assaulted the traditional ruler and his wife, while destroying property within the palace. Other charges include cruelty to animals and assault occasioning bodily harm.
The Command also moved to dispel claims circulating on social media that peaceful protesters were targeted during the operation. In a statement, police officials insisted that no law-abiding demonstrator was arrested.
“No peaceful protester was arrested,” the Command said. “Law-abiding citizens were only advised to return home in the interest of public order. Those currently in custody are individuals directly linked to acts of vandalism and violence.”
Reaffirming the police position, CP Agbonika stressed that while the Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful protest, the Command would not tolerate the use of such gatherings as cover for criminal conduct. He confirmed that all 52 suspects have been arraigned before courts of competent jurisdiction.
Residents have been urged to remain calm, shun unverified social media reports and rely on official channels for accurate information, as security agencies maintain a heightened presence to safeguard lives and property in Ekpoma.
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