Residents of Ekpoma, the administrative heart of Esan West Local Government Area in Edo State, took to the streets in a massive demonstration on Saturday, January 10, 2026. The protest was a direct response to the escalating and frightening wave of kidnappings that has gripped the university town, sowing fear and anger among the populace.
A Community Pushed to the Brink
The serene atmosphere of Ekpoma has been shattered in recent times by repeated attacks from kidnappers. Armed gangs have been brazenly abducting residents from their very homes, creating an environment of terror. This persistent insecurity finally boiled over, leading to the organized protest which significantly disrupted commercial activities across the town.
Adding their voices to the outcry, students from the prominent Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, joined the demonstration in large numbers. In a powerful display of their frustration, the enraged protesters targeted symbols of political campaigns, pulling down billboards that had been mounted in the town ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Official Responses and a High-Tech Rescue Operation
Reacting to the public unrest, Austin Eigbiremolen, the Principal Security Officer to Governor Monday Okpebholo, moved to assure residents. He promised that adequate security measures would be deployed to Ekpoma and vowed that the kidnappers would be flushed out of the area soon.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Police Command provided details of a simultaneous security operation. Eno Ikoedem, the Police Public Relations Officer, addressed reports of worsening insecurity, stating that the State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, was already on the ground in Ekpoma. She revealed a significant breakthrough: nine persons abducted just a day earlier, on Friday, had been rescued unhurt.
This successful rescue was attributed to a landmark deployment. The police's Eagle Combat Drone Unit was sent into nearby forests, working in collaboration with local hunters. Ikoedem explained that during the intense operation, the kidnappers' camp was pinpointed using real-time aerial intelligence from the drones. Ground troops then stormed the location, forcing the assailants to flee and abandon two locally fabricated AK-49 rifles.
Technology Sets a New Policing Benchmark
"The victims, including five children, were rescued unhurt. This landmark deployment underscores the transformative role of technology in modern policing and sets a new benchmark for operational enhancement in Edo State," Ikoedem stated. This operation highlights a critical shift towards integrating advanced technology like drones to combat criminal elements in the state's forests and rural areas.
While the police emphasized this successful tech-driven intervention, the protest underscores the deep-seated anxiety of the community. The events in Ekpoma present a dual narrative: one of public despair manifesting in street protests, and another of security forces leveraging new technology to achieve tactical wins. The coming days will be crucial in determining if the deployed security measures can sustainably restore peace and deter future kidnappings in the area.
