In a dramatic display of grassroots frustration, residents of Ekpoma, in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, joined traders and students to block the Benin–Ekpoma–Auchi highway on October 21, 2025. The protest, authorised by the community, occurred in response to a steady rise in kidnappings, abductions and ransom demands in the region.
The blockade caused traffic delays of over three hours, with market women abandoning stalls and commuters stranded. Protesters carried placards reading “Stop the Abductions Now” and “Our Children Are Not Ransom Bills.” They called on the Edo State Government and security agencies to deploy more patrols, set up intelligence-led operations and launch community vigilante partnerships.
According to local sources, kidnappers have exploited the bushy corridors around Ekpoma and the busy highway, targeting students after school hours and transporting them out of the immediate area for ransom. Some residents claim to have paid multiple millions of naira in ransom in recent months.
Security analysts say the protest indicates a threshold of public tolerance has been reached. While the state government points to demolitions of suspected kidnap-den properties in Esan and Uromi, residents argue the response is reactive rather than preventive. The economic cost of such protests may be significant: the Benin–Auchi corridor is vital for goods movement and commerce in Edo.
For the government, this incident is a signal that insecurity is no longer limited to rural backroads but threatens central transport arteries. Experts recommend integrating highway CCTV, drone surveillance and community intelligence units, combined with state funding of rapid response squads.