Tension escalated in Ekpoma, Edo State, following a fresh wave of violent kidnappings in which armed men reportedly stormed residential homes in the Emaudo area, breaking into rooms and abducting occupants in a brazen overnight operation.
The incident, said to have occurred between the night of January 24 and the early hours of January 25, 2026, was captured in a distressing video now circulating online. The footage shows visible damage to doors and security bars, bloodstains within the premises and a traumatised narrator recounting how armed intruders forcibly entered the house and abducted victims, including her brother.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers arrived under the cover of darkness, smashed security barriers and moved from room to room before escaping with their victims. The development has deepened fear among residents, who say kidnappers are no longer limiting their operations to highways but are now targeting homes directly.
“This is no longer about travelling at night. Even inside your house, you are not safe,” a resident said, describing a growing sense of helplessness and anxiety across the community.
The latest attack fits into a disturbing pattern of rising kidnapping incidents in Ekpoma and surrounding communities, which have in recent weeks sparked protests and repeated calls for improved security. Many residents now say they sleep in shifts, keeping vigil through the night amid fears of further attacks.
In a related development, five suspected kidnappers were reportedly apprehended over the weekend following a coordinated operation involving local vigilantes and security forces. According to accounts from the area, the suspects were tracked after allegedly abducting a family member from a residence while the victim was asleep. The abducted person was said to have been rescued during the operation.
Another version of events claimed the suspects were arrested in Ewu community, following what was described as a deadly kidnapping operation linked to Ekpoma. However, the precise connection between the arrests and the Emaudo incident remains unclear.
As of the time of filing this report, the Edo State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on either the reported home invasion in Emaudo or the arrest of the five suspects.
Residents have renewed calls for urgent intervention by security agencies, warning that the continued escalation of violence could further destabilise the area if decisive action is not taken. For many in Ekpoma, the message is stark: insecurity has moved from the roads into their living rooms.
Watch the video:
