Monday Okpebholo, Governor of Edo State, is currently in Ekpoma, the university town in the state, which has become restive since Saturday after a soldier shot and killed a young man protesting the incessant kidnapping of people in the town by alleged Fulani herdsmen.

The PUNCH, quoting Kassim Afegbua, spokesman of the government, reports that the governor’s move came after angry youths chased away Hausa traders at the livestock market in university town in Edo Central and slaughtered goats belonging to the traders.

The shooting incident, came when some youths had embarked on protests to call attention to the activities of the herdsmen, who had allegedly continued to carry out relentless kidnappings with security operatives appearing to have no solution.

The reports, quoted Afegbua, Commissioner for Information and Strategy as saying: “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 came on the heels of multiple videos circulating on the social media on Sunday morning, showing some youths descending on said animals after the traders were seen fleeing the scene abandoning even their cows, which were seen straying on major roads amid heavy assault by the irate youths.

The resident noted that kidnapping has become a big problem in the area, with farmers not being able to go to their farms, while residents live in fear.

Amid the protest, which also grounded commercial activities as residents also attacked some government paraphernalia, including Okpholo’s campaign billboards for the 2027 general elections Austin Eigbiremolen, Principal Security Officer to the Governor, was quoted as assuring of adequate security.

“I can assure that adequate security will be provided in Ekpoma and kidnappers will be chased away,” he was quoted as saying, while Eno Ikoedem, spokesman of the Edo State Police Command, was also saying that the authorities were not indifferent to the security challenges in town as alleged.

Stressing that Monday Agbonika, the Commissioner was already in the community to take charge of the situation, she reportedly added that nine persons were rescued unhurt after the Eagle Combat Drone Unit was deployed to the forest alongside local hunters.

Hear the police: “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.”