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AdvoKC Foundation has raised alarm over the worsening security situation across Edo State and urged Governor Monday Okpebholo to take urgent action to protect lives and restore public confidence.
In recent weeks, communities have reported recurring killings, kidnappings, and violent attacks. Fear is rising, livelihoods are disrupted, and residents are changing daily routines to stay safe. Nowhere is this crisis more evident than in the Edo Central Senatorial District.
Among the most recent kidnapping incidence recorded in the state is that of January 2, where two brothers, Abu Momoh and Dr. Ibrahim Babatunde Momoh was kidnapped at their residence; with one of the brothers already killed by the kidnappers after a few days in the kidnappers' den, while the other is still awaiting a ransom payment before his abductors can set him free. Also, on January 9, the kidnapping and killing of a young man in Ekpoma marked a grim turning point. Protests followed, alongside the vandalisation of the Onojie’s palace and destruction of local markets, exposing a breakdown in public safety and trust.
“These are not isolated incidents. They are repeated warnings from Edo people who feel exposed and unheard,” said Nelson Otabor, Programme Lead for Okpebholometer at AdvoKC Foundation. “Security is the most basic duty of government, and residents are asking whether that duty is being met.”
The violence has also disrupted education. The state government’s decision to postpone school resumption indefinitely across Edo Central confirmed families’ fears. “When children cannot return to school because safety is uncertain, the state is in crisis,” said Onyinye Edyson, Project Manager at AdvoKC Foundation. “The promise of a new Edo now contrasts with closed schools, burned markets, and anxious families.”
AdvoKC Foundation recalled Governor Okpebholo’s campaign promise to establish an Edo State Security Trust Fund to strengthen coordination, mobilise resources, and support proactive security responses. Yet the Okpebholometer on promisetracker.ng currently rates this promise as Not Yet Rated, reflecting the absence of a framework, executive bill, or public commitment.
executive bill, or public commitment.
“We have tracked this promise since inauguration,” Otabor said. “As of mid January 2026, there is no bill, no board, and no seed funding. While operations may require discretion, security funding demands public trust and action.”
The Foundation stressed that leadership in crisis requires presence, clarity, and urgency. Edo people are not asking for perfection, but for visible action and clear communication.
AdvoKC Foundation calls on Governor Okpebholo to:
History remembers how leaders respond when pressure mounts; this is a defining moment. Silence and delay have consequences.
AdvoKC Foundation remains committed to tracking promises, amplifying citizen voices, and demanding accountability through evidence based advocacy.