Comrade Napoleon Kelvin, Coordinator of the Lagos Civil Society Organisation (EKOCSO), has strongly condemned the worsening state of insecurity in Edo State, describing the growing trend of kidnappings and ransom payments as a “shame to both the security agencies and the Governor of the State.”
His remarks come in the wake of a disturbing incident on September 9, 2025, when six kidnap victims were released after their families paid ₦60 million ransom at the UBA Akpakpava branch in Benin City—right beside the Central Bank. The victims had been abducted along the Benin–Akure Road by armed kidnappers, including a runaway soldier and Fulani herdsmen. Survivors described gunfire, terrifying screams, and days spent in the forest under degrading conditions.
One of the released victims, Kingsley Obasohan, lamented the collapse of public safety: “Nigeria has descended into the abyss. The police have failed us. Kidnappers roam free while officers chase down yahoo boys.”
This incident is part of a wider wave of insecurity. Just days earlier, on September 5, 2025, gunmen hijacked an 18-seater New Edo Line bus and a Toyota Corolla on the same highway. While 16 abducted passengers were rescued, the kidnappers shamelessly demanded ₦15 million ransom per victim, underscoring the audacity of criminal syndicates operating with apparent impunity.
Civil society groups and human rights advocates have raised alarm over the growing infiltration of armed kidnappers into Edo communities. Though the Edo State Security Network (ESSN) and vigilante groups have intensified operations, leading to several arrests and rescues, kidnappings continue to escalate in scale and brutality.
In March 2025, public frustration boiled over in Uromi, where a mob lynched at least seven suspected kidnappers accused of repeated abductions. The mob justice, while unlawful, reflected citizens’ deep loss of faith in formal law enforcement.
Comrade Napoleon Kelvin stressed that ransom payments are now becoming institutionalized, warning that unless decisive action is taken, Edo State risks sliding into a lawless zone:
“This is a disgrace to governance and security. It is unacceptable that families must gather millions of naira beside the Central Bank to buy back the lives of their loved ones, while the state and federal security agencies look the other way. We demand urgent reforms, not excuses.”
He called for a collaborative and transparent strategy between the federal government, the Edo State government, security agencies, and community vigilantes to restore safety on highways, dismantle kidnapping networks, and prosecute offenders without compromise.
Until then, Edo citizens remain trapped in fear, caught between the cruelty of kidnappers and the failures of state security structures.
📌 Reported by: Stone Reporters News
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