By Ladidi Sabo
There is an old warning in political theory: when a government fails to provide security, it risks inviting anarchy. In Nigeria, that warning is no longer abstract—it is playing out in real time.
Across the country, citizens increasingly resort to self-help measures as banditry, kidnapping and terrorism continue largely unchecked. From rural highways to university towns, fear has become routine. In early 2026, insecurity remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing national crises, particularly in the North, where attacks persist despite repeated assurances from authorities.
Calls for stronger government action have grown louder, coming not only from ordinary citizens but also from traditional rulers, civil society groups and political leaders. Yet for many Nigerians, patience has worn thin—and protests are becoming the language of desperation.
Edo Protesters Remanded After Anti-Kidnapping Demonstration
That frustration erupted last weekend in Ekpoma, a university town in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, where youths took to the streets to protest rising cases of kidnapping and violent crime. Residents said the situation had become so dire that people now live in constant fear.
On Monday, the Edo State High Court sitting as Criminal Court 2 ordered the remand of several youths arrested during the protest. The court directed that the suspects be held at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.
The ruling followed an application by the prosecution requesting a 14-day remand to allow security agencies continue investigations into the protest, which disrupted activities across Ekpoma and drew widespread attention throughout Edo State.
The courtroom scene was emotional. Some of the arrested youths and their relatives broke down in tears as security operatives escorted the protesters into a waiting vehicle under heavy guard.
Viral Videos, Rising Tensions
Videos circulating widely on social media showed residents in parts of Edo Central staging demonstrations against alleged kidnappings and killings. In some clips, individuals suspected to be cattle breeders were seen fleeing a market upon sighting the protesters—footage that further inflamed tensions and deepened ethnic and security anxieties.
The Edo State Police Command said the protest was initially peaceful but was later “hijacked” by hoodlums.
In a statement signed by Police Public Relations Officer ASP Eno Ikoedem, the command said vandalism and looting occurred, prompting what it described as swift intervention by security agencies. The Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, reportedly deployed additional tactical reinforcements from the state headquarters in Benin, restoring “normalcy” through coordinated crowd-control operations.
Police also confirmed that a 32-year-old man, identified as Osagie Abraham, was shot during the unrest and is currently receiving medical treatment. According to the statement, the military personnel involved have been identified and reported to the appropriate authorities for disciplinary action.
While reaffirming that peaceful protest is a constitutional right, the police warned that demonstrations must be conducted responsibly. The command added that intelligence-led operations had been intensified to curb kidnapping and other crimes in Ekpoma and across Edo State.
Government Promises, Public Scepticism
The Edo State Government, meanwhile, reiterated its commitment to tackling insecurity. Governor Monday Okpebholo declared that there would be “no hiding place for perpetrators” of kidnapping and violent crime, urging residents to support security agencies with credible information.
But for many Nigerians, such assurances now ring hollow.
In late December 2025, a peaceful protest by women in Kwara State against persistent insecurity, abductions and bandit attacks ended violently when suspected thugs reportedly attacked and flogged demonstrators near the Government House in Ilorin, while police officers allegedly stood by.
A Nation on Edge
From Edo to Kwara, a troubling pattern is emerging: citizens protest insecurity, the state responds with force or arrests, and the underlying crisis remains unresolved. As trust in official protection erodes, Nigerians are increasingly left to fend for themselves—raising the stakes in a country already stretched by economic hardship and social tension.
The question now confronting Nigeria is no longer whether insecurity exists, but how long a state can withstand the consequences of failing to stop it.
