Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo, has condemned the attack on the palace of the Onojie of Ekpoma, His Royal Highness, Zaiki Anthony Ehizojie Abumere II, following a protest in Ekpoma that resulted in the blockage of a major highway and widespread destruction of property.
The governor's condemnation came a day after the incident, when he visited the palace to personally assess the damage allegedly caused by protesters who invaded the traditional institution under the guise of expressing grievances over insecurity.
Okpebholo was accompanied by top government officials, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including the state chairman, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe; Edo Central Senatorial leader, General Cecil Esekhaigbe (rtd); and other party stakeholders.
During the visit, the governor was taken round the palace and shown several items destroyed during the invasion.
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Vehicles within the palace compound were vandalised, while canopies and chairs were broken. Cartons of Indomie noodles belonging to the Enojie's wife, who trades in the product, were also destroyed. Doors and windows of the palace were damaged.
Reacting, Governor Okpebholo described the invasion of the palace and the looting of property as criminal and unacceptable, stressing that protests must never be used as an excuse for lawlessness.
"I want to thank Your Highness for the love you have shown to me and our people over the years," the governor said. "Kidnapping is a serious problem across Nigeria, and that is why the President has taken bold steps, including withdrawing police from VIP duties, to strengthen the fight against insecurity."
He disclosed that a security meeting was held earlier in the week with a strong focus on Edo Central Senatorial District, particularly the Ekpoma axis, adding that the government had rolled out strategic, technology-driven security operations.
"We have carried out operations in Edo North and Edo South, and now we are in Edo Central. We will leave no stone unturned. The first operation was very successful nine kidnapped persons in Etsako West were rescued unhurt and the kidnappers were arrested," he stated.
He warned that those who hijacked the protest to vandalise the palace and loot property would be brought to justice.
"They came under the guise of protest and sentiments, then resorted to looting and violence. This is unacceptable. We will go after them the same way we are going after kidnappers. Nobody should test our patience," he said.
Emphasising his personal stake in the peace of Ekpoma and Esan land, the governor added, "I am an Esan man and I got my highest votes here in Ekpoma. I will not allow bad things to happen in this land. In the coming days, our actions will speak for themselves. Nobody involved in this criminality will be spared."
Earlier, the Onojie Zaiki Anthony Ehizojie Abumere II, described the incident as unfortunate, alleging that many of the protesters were under the influence of illicit drugs.
"What transpired was very sad. Many of them were under the influence of drugs. If not for God's intervention, something worse would have happened," the monarch said.
He explained that he attempted to address the protesters when they first arrived but was prevented from doing so. According to him, the protesters later returned while he was away attending a security meeting with other traditional rulers, forced their way into the palace, and unleashed violence.
Meanwhile, former presidential aspirant and Edo governorship candidate on the platform of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) Patience Ndidi Ofure-Key yesterday raised the alarm over worsening insecurity in Ekpoma, following protests triggered by kidnapping threats.
In statement in Benin, Ofure-Key said residents and youths, including those linked to Ambrose Alli University, protested repeated abductions, warning that fear has overtaken daily life in the university community.
Ofure-Key stressed that the protection of lives and welfare remained the primary responsibility of government and security agencies, noting that abandonment inevitably fuels anger, tension, and protest.
She noted that parents feared sleeping, students feared attending classes, and communities feel deserted, creating a volatile atmosphere that no responsible government should ignore or trivialise.
While condemning violence and lawlessness, Ofure-Key said she understands citizens' frustration when peaceful appeals for safety are met with silence and inaction.
According to her, people protest not for confrontation but because they feel abandoned, warning that social order weakens when communities feel unprotected and desperation deepen.
She expressed concern over allegations that security operatives raided student hostels and arrested protesters, describing such actions as intimidation rather than genuine public safety measures.
Ofure-Key said democracy can not restore calm by treating frightened citizens as enemies nor win trust by arresting young people demanding their fundamental right to live safely.
She insisted that allegations must be investigated lawfully but warned authorities against responding to legitimate safety concerns with harassment, intimidation, or indiscriminate arrests.
The former aspirant said persistent government failure forces communities toward self-help, sometimes dangerously, stressing that leadership must prioritise security, justice, and accountability over mass arrests.
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She declared that peaceful protest was not a crime, urging authorities to focus on criminals, not victims, and immediately release students and residents arrested solely for protesting.
Ofure-Key demanded an urgent, clear security action plan for Ekpoma with measurable interventions, timelines, and transparency around security allocations and outcomes.
She questioned recurring "security votes" amid persistent insecurity, insisting that Edo citizens deserve clear accounting, measurable results, and public reporting on security spending.
Ofure-Key called for immediate patrols, joint campus-community security frameworks, emergency reporting systems, hotspot protection, public briefings, and strict accountability for abuses.
She urged the Edo Government, security agencies, AAU management, and community leaders to act decisively, release innocent detainees, and protect Ekpoma residents from kidnappers.
Ofure-Key said Nigeria can not build prosperity on fear, stressing that security underpins education, investment, and development, and Edo must prove it can protect lives.
Addressing students and residents, she urged discipline and lawfulness, warning against allowing criminals hijack legitimate protests demanding safety and accountability.
