The Edo State Government has condemned an attack on traders at the Ekpoma livestock market in Edo Central, where angry youths slaughtered goats and forced traders to flee.
The incident followed a protest by residents over the killing of a youth allegedly by suspected kidnappers in the area.
Videos that surfaced online on Sunday morning showed groups of youths invading the livestock market, killing goats owned by the traders and chasing them away from the premises.
In the footage, traders were seen fleeing for safety, while cows belonging to them wandered onto a major road. Some residents were also captured assaulting the animals, while slaughtered goats were dragged away.
A male voice narrating one of the videos in pidgin English said, “Aboki people go hear am, they don kill their goats and them still dey kill they go. See how people they beat their cow.”
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, condemned the violence in a WhatsApp message to our correspondent and urged residents to remain calm to prevent reprisal attacks in other locations.
He said Governor Monday Okpebholo had travelled to Ekpoma to personally appeal for calm, describing the incident as a spontaneous and senseless mob action.
Afegbua said, “This is very untoward. Incidentally, some of our people are the owners of these cows. We can only appeal for calm, to avoid reprisal attacks elsewhere. This is a mob action, often spontaneous and senseless
“The Governor has gone to the area to appeal for calm. An eye for an eye is not the best approach.”
It will be recalled that residents had on Saturday blocked entry and exit points into the town while engaging police officers over the worsening insecurity in the area.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the protest was triggered by the killing of a youth whose corpse was discovered in the bush on Friday night.
The resident said kidnapping had become rampant in the community, preventing farmers from accessing their farms and leaving residents in constant fear.
Commercial activities were reportedly disrupted during the protest, while campaign billboards ahead of the 2027 general elections were also pulled down.
Earlier on Saturday, the Principal Security Officer to the Governor, Austin Eigbiremolen, assured residents that adequate security would be deployed to Ekpoma and that kidnappers would be flushed out.
He said, “I can assure that adequate security will be provided in Ekpoma and kidnappers will be chased away.”
Also speaking on Saturday, Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, said the police were responding to the security challenges in Ekpoma.
She disclosed that the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, was already in the town, adding that nine abducted persons were rescued unhurt following the deployment of the Eagle Combat Drone Unit to nearby forests in collaboration with local hunters.
She said, “In the heat of the rescue operation, the kidnappers’ camp was located through real-time aerial intelligence.
“The ground troops stormed the camp, forcing the kidnappers to flee and abandon two locally fabricated AK-49 rifles. 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.”
(PUNCH)
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