Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has said that most incidents of kidnappings in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area are perpetuated by the indigenes of the locality.
DAILY POST reports that Governor Okpebholo made the statement while receiving the students of Ambrose Alli University, AAU, Ekpoma, and others, who were released from Correctional Centre following their arrest in connection with the last Saturday, January 10, 2026 anti-kidnapping protest in the area.
Okpebholo, who, however, cautioned students against allowing themselves to be used by criminal elements, urged them to focus on their studies.
He said statistics of suspects that have so far been arrested by security operatives were locals.
According to him, “most of the incidents of kidnapping in Ekpoma are done by locals. When soldiers and other security agencies went into the forest at night, the people caught were natives from Ekpoma. So we need to look at who our enemies really area.
“Investigations by security agencies showed that many of those involved in criminal activities around Ekpoma were indigenes of the area”,he said.
He, noted that he was deeply pained by the violent turn the protest took, especially given his strong commitment to the revival of Ambrose Alli University.
“I was highly in pain when I saw what was happening in my place. The day I was sworn in, I said I was going to revive Ambrose Alli University.
“Since then, it has been about how to revive the school, how to move the school forward and how to reposition it again.
“Somebody said he is a student and he protests. What are you protesting for? Don’t allow yourself to be used. Read your books so that you can be like us”, he added.
While acknowledging security challenges facing Ekpoma and other parts of the country, he stressed that insecurity is a collective problem that requires collective responsibility.
“The same way you are afraid for your life, is the same way I am afraid for my life. Kidnappers do not know the status of anybody and so it’s a common problem we all have, ”he stated.
Okpebholo, who condemned the destruction of shops and looting of properties during the protest, describing it as counterproductive.
He posited that, “things are not moving, people are hungry, and you are burning shops and destroying properties. If it were yours, will you be happy?”
He appealed to the students and youths to embrace peace and constructive engagement, warning that criminals would not be allowed to have a hiding place in Edo State.
The governor, who noted that some of them may be innocent, stated that criminals will not have a hiding place in Edo State.
Most kidnapping incidents perpetuated by Ekpoma natives – Okpebholo
