A wave of violence swept through Auchi Sacred Kingdom in Edo State on Saturday as local youths retaliated against a rising tide of kidnappings that have plagued their community. Frustrations reached a boiling point as residents took to the streets to voice their anger over the spate of abductions.
The situation had escalated in recent days, with locals expressing concerns about the safety of their neighborhoods, lamenting that kidnappings have become alarmingly common. An anonymous member of the Otaru Council in Auchi described the severity of the crisis, stating, "For months now, we have been facing a lot of kidnapping issues. Every day, there must be a report of kidnapping. Once they kidnap, the ransom they ask for is from N100 million. And we cannot take it anymore."
The unrest followed a series of protests led by elderly women in the kingdom, who gathered on major roads to denounce the kidnappers and their accomplices. The council member confirmed that these protests reflected a widespread sense of frustration among community members.
"For about a week now, elderly women in our Auchi Kingdom have been coming out to protest. Peaceful protest. That enough is enough. Kidnapping is not needed. We do not want it again in our community," the council member said.
The situation intensified as youths mobilized throughout the town on Saturday in response to the escalating crisis. "And today, the youth came out," the council member added.
The unrest escalated as youths began identifying members of the Hausa community without permanent residence in Auchi. "Any Hausa without residence is asked to leave. We want every Hausa man or woman to have a place to stay in our community, not by hanging around," the council member explained.
Reports indicate that the youths targeted homes and businesses belonging to Hausa residents, destroying and setting ablaze multiple properties, forcing many to flee the area in search of safety.
In response to the chaos, law enforcement agencies, including the Nigerian Army, were deployed to help restore order and prevent additional violence.
The council member noted, "When the youth came out today to move all the Hausa that were not fully resident in this community, the Hausas went to call soldiers to back them up." However, he criticized the military's actions during the confrontation, stating, "They are backing up the Hausa. They are backing them up. They are protecting the Hausas, not the Auchi community."
Despite acknowledging the military’s presence, he expressed disappointment in their effectiveness, stating, "That is why the youth and the women came out en masse because they felt that the army was not doing the best of what is expected of them."
Historically, Auchi has been recognized for its hospitality towards individuals from various parts of Nigeria seeking residence and employment. Nonetheless, some local residents argue that this longstanding welcoming attitude has been exploited over time.
Concerns have been raised regarding the influx of Hausa migrants, with claims that their numbers are steadily increasing, surpassing that of the indigenes, which has caused growing tensions in the community.
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