Angry youths in Agenebode, the headquarters of Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, have set ablaze a police station following allegations of police collaboration with kidnappers operating in the area.
Youths Accuse Police of Inaction
According to reports, the unrest was triggered by the recent kidnapping of a young boy in the community. Despite the payment of ransom, the boy was not released and is suspected to have been killed by the kidnappers. Frustrated by the police’s perceived inaction, the community youth took matters into their own hands. They tracked the phone of one of the suspected kidnappers and arrested the culprit, handing him over to the police. However, when they felt that the police were mishandling the investigation, they forcefully took the suspect back.
Link to Community Leader and Gruesome Discovery
Further investigation by the youths allegedly revealed that the suspect was working in conjunction with a prominent community leader. The youths stormed the leader’s residence and, during an interrogation, the leader reportedly confessed that several kidnap victims had been killed, with their bodies buried in shallow graves after their organs were harvested.
The enraged youths unearthed the decomposing body of the young boy in the leader’s compound and discovered what appeared to be the remains of several other victims. Enraged, they set fire to the community leader’s house.
Destruction and Loss of Lives
In addition to torching the leader’s home, the mob targeted several businesses owned by non-indigenes in the area, with reports of fatalities during the attack. The youths then turned their anger toward the police station, setting it on fire.
One of the protesting youths was quoted as saying, “Enough is enough, this must stop. The police kill our children and still collect money from us. These kidnappers take our children, collect money, and still kill them. They collect N2.5 million, sometimes N3 million, and still murder the victims.”
Authorities Respond
In response to the escalating violence, the media aide to the Chairman of the Council announced that the Chairman, Mrs. Benedicta Atoh was in talks with the youths in a bid to find a lasting solution to the crisis. The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) for Zone 5, Arungwa Udo, and the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Nemi Edwin-Iwo, also visited the area to restore order and assess the situation.
Awaiting Police Statement
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Command, Moses Yamu, told journalists that the police would release a formal statement once all the facts had been established.
Call for Accountability
This tragic incident highlights the breakdown of trust between the community and the police, raising concerns about the alleged complicity of security forces in criminal activities. It underscores the urgent need for a thorough investigation into the role of the Nigerian police in safeguarding citizens and preventing such heinous acts.
