Arewa Community Protests Insecurity in Edo State

The Arewa community in Auchi, located in Edo State, commenced a sit-at-home protest on Friday to draw attention to the insecurity and perceived persecution faced by its members. Chief Bawa Moham, a community leader, stated that the protest aims to highlight the plight of northern residents in Edo North, where many have fled violence in northern Nigeria seeking better opportunities.

The sit-at-home protest is a collective action to address security concerns and to urge the community to identify and isolate individuals involved in criminal activities. The protest has significant economic implications, as northern residents, particularly Hausa motorcyclists, constitute 95% of local transportation and provide 90% of auxiliary services in the area.

The action comes amid a backdrop of increased kidnappings in Edo North, prompting law enforcement agencies to intensify security operations, resulting in the reported arrest of 100 kidnapping suspects this year.