Insecurity: Ofure-Key warns Edo against silencing peaceful protesters

By Jethro Ibileke

Former presidential aspirant and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) governorship candidate, Patience Ndidi Ofure-Key, has urged the Edo State Government to focus on protecting residents rather than treating peaceful protests as criminal acts.

Ofure-Key, who expressed concern over worsening insecurity in Edo Central Senatorial District, particularly Ekpoma in Esan West Local Government Area, said the recent protest in the university town was driven by fear arising from persistent kidnapping threats.

In a statement issued on Monday in Benin, she noted that residents and youths, including members of the Ambrose Alli University community, took to the streets to protest repeated abductions, warning that fear now dominates everyday life in the area.

She emphasised that safeguarding lives and welfare remains the core responsibility of government and security agencies, stressing that neglect often breeds anger, tension and public unrest.

According to her, parents are afraid to sleep, students are scared to attend lectures, and communities feel abandoned, creating what she described as a dangerous situation that should not be dismissed by any responsible administration.

While condemning violence and disorder, Ofure-Key said she understood the frustration of citizens whose calls for protection were allegedly met with silence.

She maintained that protests usually arise not from a desire for confrontation but from a sense of abandonment, warning that social stability erodes when people feel unsafe and ignored.

The former governorship candidate also raised concerns over reports that security operatives raided student hostels and arrested protesters, describing such actions as intimidation rather than genuine security measures.

She said democracy cannot be strengthened by treating frightened citizens as adversaries or by arresting young people who are demanding their basic right to safety.

Ofure-Key called for lawful investigations into any wrongdoing but cautioned authorities against responding to legitimate security concerns with harassment or indiscriminate arrests.

She argued that prolonged government inaction often pushes communities towards self-help, sometimes with dangerous consequences, adding that leadership must prioritise security, justice and accountability over mass arrests.

Insisting that peaceful protest is not a crime, she urged authorities to focus on perpetrators rather than victims and to release students and residents detained solely for protesting.

She further demanded an urgent and transparent security action plan for Ekpoma, including clear timelines, measurable interventions and accountability for security spending.

Questioning recurring “security votes” amid ongoing insecurity, Ofure-Key said Edo residents deserved clear explanations, measurable outcomes and public reporting on how security funds are utilised.

She called for immediate patrols, joint campus–community security arrangements, emergency response systems, protection of crime hotspots, regular public briefings and firm sanctions for abuses.

Ofure-Key appealed to the Edo Government, security agencies, Ambrose Alli University management and community leaders to act decisively, release innocent detainees and protect residents from kidnappers.

She stressed that Nigeria cannot achieve growth where fear prevails, noting that security is essential for education, investment and development, and urged Edo State to demonstrate its commitment to protecting lives.

Addressing students and residents, she advised restraint and lawfulness, warning against allowing criminals to hijack legitimate protests for safety and accountability.

However, she insisted that government responsibility was non-negotiable, warning that Edo must address insecurity rather than suppress public outcry, adding that Ekpoma should not become “another regretful headline”.