A violent incident on Sunday afternoon plunged Agenebode, the headquarters of Etsako East Local Government Area in Edo State, into chaos as several people were feared killed, and a police station was set ablaze. The outbreak of violence was reportedly sparked by allegations that suspected criminal Fulani individuals had been involved in kidnapping and organ harvesting, with accusations that the police were shielding them.
According to local sources, the recent turmoil stemmed from the unresolved case of a young boy who was kidnapped weeks ago and remained missing, despite the payment of a ransom by his family. Reports indicate that the youth of the community managed to track the boy’s mobile phone, leading to the arrest of the individual using it. The suspect was handed over to the police and was allegedly linked to the head of the local Hausa/Fulani community.
Frustrated by what they perceived as the police’s reluctance to act decisively, the youths took matters into their own hands. They stormed the police station, forcibly removing the suspect who then reportedly led them to the residence of the Hausa/Fulani leader. Upon further interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed to the gruesome reality that several kidnap victims had been killed, with their bodies buried in shallow graves after organ harvesting.
The situation escalated when the agitated youths began to dig around the compound of the Hausa/Fulani leader, who had already fled the area with his family. During the search, the decomposing body of the young boy was discovered, along with several other bones suspected to be of human origin. This discovery fueled the already heightened tension, resulting in the youths setting fire to the residence of the Hausa/Fulani leader and several business centers owned by members of the Hausa/Fulani community.
The anger and frustration boiled over as the youths reportedly attacked and killed several individuals linked to the Hausa/Fulani community. Subsequently, they returned to the police station, torching the building in a display of outrage. One of the youths who participated in the violent protests expressed the community’s grievances, stating, “Enough is enough; this must stop. The police kill our children and still take money from us. These kidnappers will abduct our children, collect ransoms, and still kill them. They will take N2.5 million, sometimes N3 million from us, and still kill the victims.”
Attempts to reach the Chairman of Etsako East Local Government Area, Mrs. Benedicta Atoh, for comments proved unsuccessful, as an aide reported that she was too shocked to speak.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) for Zone 5, Arungwa Udo, and the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Nemi Edwin-Iwo, have since visited Agenebode to restore order and conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the situation. The police have assured the community that a thorough investigation will be carried out to address the allegations of kidnapping, organ harvesting, and police complicity.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the Edo State Command, Moses Yamu, when contacted by our correspondent, responded via text message, stating, “Will get back to you ASAP (as soon as possible).” However, further details were not provided at the time of reporting.
As tensions remain high, the community is demanding justice for the young boy and all victims of these alleged crimes. They have called on the authorities to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice, and that no one, regardless of their status, is above the law.
