Okpekpe Under Siege: Residents Cry Out Over Killings, Kidnappings

Residents of Okpekpe in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State are facing growing fear over reported killings and kidnappings in and around the community, with a former council chairman calling on Governor Monday Okpebholo and security agencies to take urgent action.

Princess Benedicta Attoh, a former Executive Chairman of Etsako East Local Government Council and an indigene of Okpekpe, said about 10 people had been killed by bandits and kidnappers in the area since November 2024.

In an urgent appeal to the Edo State Government, Attoh described Okpekpe as “under siege” and said the security situation had reached a point where residents were afraid to farm, travel between communities and sleep peacefully in their homes.

Her statement, addressed to Governor Okpebholo, also called attention to the Ebelle-Amughe and Ebelle-Uzanu roads, which she identified among the areas requiring urgent security attention.

Copies of the appeal were also sent to the Inspector-General of Police, Edo State Commissioner of Police, Director-General of the Department of State Services, General Officer Commanding the Nigerian Army and the Chairman of Etsako East Local Government Council.

Three people reportedly kidnapped on Okpekpe road

Attoh said the latest incident involved three people who were reportedly abducted along the Ebelle-Amughe Road.

According to her account, the kidnappers demanded a ₦30 million ransom, while ₦3 million was eventually delivered.

She alleged that the payment did not prevent further tragedy, saying two of the victims were subsequently killed while the third escaped with serious gunshot wounds.

Attoh described the incident as particularly disturbing, arguing that the reported killing of victims despite the payment showed how ruthless the criminals operating in the area had become.

The circumstances surrounding the incident and the reported deaths are matters for security agencies to investigate.

Farmers, travelers now living in fear

Beyond the reported attacks, Attoh said the insecurity was affecting normal life in Okpekpe and surrounding communities.

She said farmers were increasingly afraid to access their farms, while residents were also worried about travelling between communities because of the possibility of abduction.

The former council chairman said the fear had reached her personally, despite her familiarity with the area.

She said she was afraid to sleep in her own home because of the possibility of an attack.

Attoh argued that if someone who had previously served the community could feel unsafe in her own home, the situation could be even more frightening for vulnerable residents, including women, children and elderly people.

Attoh asks Okpebholo for urgent security intervention

The former council chairman is asking the Edo State Government to treat the situation as an emergency and work with federal security agencies to secure Okpekpe and the surrounding communities.

Among the measures she requested are the deployment of additional security personnel, regular patrols along vulnerable routes and a coordinated operation to identify those responsible for the reported attacks.

She specifically called for security attention along the Ebelle-Amughe and Ebelle-Uzanu corridors, as well as other vulnerable areas around Okpekpe.

She also wants the latest reported killings investigated, including the circumstances surrounding the ransom payment and the subsequent deaths of two of the abducted persons.

Calls for sustained security presence

Attoh said residents need more than temporary security deployments following an attack.

She called for a sustained presence in the affected communities, arguing that regular security operations and stronger cooperation with local community structures could help improve intelligence gathering and early warnings.

According to her, restoring security is also necessary for the local economy because residents need to be able to return to their farms and move between communities without fear.

“We have lost too many lives already,” Attoh said, adding that she did not want residents to wait for more families to lose loved ones before decisive action was taken.

She appealed to Governor Okpebholo to work with federal security agencies to protect Okpekpe and other affected communities.

Why the Okpekpe security alarm matters

The concern raised by Attoh goes beyond individual kidnapping incidents because insecurity can directly affect farming, transportation, education and other everyday activities in rural communities.

When residents are afraid to travel or reach their farms, economic activity can also suffer.

For Okpekpe and neighbouring communities, the former council chairman’s appeal places renewed attention on the security situation along the roads linking the affected areas.

The governor and relevant security agencies have been urged to respond to the concerns and investigate the reported attacks.

For residents, the immediate demand is straightforward: safer roads, protection for communities and the ability to return to farms and homes without living under constant fear.

Attoh’s warning is that waiting for another attack before taking action could lead to more lives being lost.