Inside Edo
Activists seek removal of Edo CP, tasks Okpebholo on protection of citizens rights
Written By: Louis Odianose Pius
25 Oct 2025 06:14 PM
Benin, Edo – In a fiery press briefing on Saturday, a civil rights group under the aegis of Bail is Free campaign organization, issued a resounding call to Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo to urgently intervene and safeguard residents' rights against what it described as rampant police misconduct, extortion, and complicity in crime under the watch of Commissioner of Police (CP) Monday Agbonika.
Addressing journalists and civil society allies in Benin City, Coordinator General Comrade Oni Edigin painted a grim picture of daily life in Edo, where insecurity has eroded public trust in law enforcement.
"We now live in a state where kidnapping has become a source of livelihood," Edigin declared, highlighting how armed bandits terrorize communities, herders encroach on farmlands, and internet fraudsters—colloquially known as "Yahoo Yahoo boys"—thrive with alleged police assistance in "money recovery" schemes.
He accused the Edo State Police Command of transforming into a "rogue institution," prioritizing the protection of corrupt insiders over justice, with whistleblowers facing threats and harassment instead of commendation.
Edigin urged Okpebholo to "wake up to its responsibility of protecting its citizens' lives and property" as enshrined in the constitution.
The coalition, in conjunction with broader civil society organizations, lambasted CP Agbonika for fostering an environment where officers demand payments for bail, stationery, and even debt recovery, effectively turning stations into extortion hubs.
Edigin cited unheeded petitions sent as early as July 21, 2025, to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, the Police Service Commission, and the Senate Committee on Police Welfare, accusing Agbonika of shielding fraudsters while targeting truth-tellers.
"In any sane democracy, citizens providing useful information would be hailed as civic heroes, but in Edo State, such is twisted into a pretext for abduction and prosecution," he lamented.
The group, also known as AHMWFES emphasized that these violations—ranging from arbitrary arrests and unlawful detentions to aiding kidnappers and fraudsters—contravene the Police Act 2020, which mandates investigation before arrest and prohibits detaining suspects for civil offenses.
The group shared evidence of their complaints on social media platforms like WhatsApp, TikTok, and Facebook, and even directly to Agbonika's official channels, yet claimed the issues persist, with corrupt officers "celebrated" while the poor languish in prison.
Turning squarely to Governor Okpebholo, Edigin appealed: "The Edo State Government should, as a matter of urgency, ensure that its citizens are not trampled by any agent of Government, be it State or Federal, masquerading as enforcers of law and order."
He stressed the governor's pivotal role in upholding citizens' rights to freedom of information, accountability, and transparency, warning that failure to act could perpetuate a "culture of intimidation, fraud, extortion, and impunity" antithetical to Nigeria's democratic principles of unity, faith, peace, and progress.
The briefing culminated in a six-point demand list, with an immediate 14-day ultimatum to IGP Egbetokun and the Police Service Commission starting today.
The demands are;
– Immediate removal or transfer of CP Monday Agbonika and other implicated officers, citing his lack of professionalism and diplomacy.
– Urgent review of Edo's policing system by appointing security experts to boost accountability and transparency.
– Mandatory psychological evaluations for replacement officers, including redeployment of Deputy Commissioner of Police (CID) Isah Lawal.
– Training for officers on core duties: crime detection and prevention, not creation.
–
Full investigation and sanctioning of the Anti-Vice Unit for allegedly functioning as a debt recovery agency for fraudsters.
– Restoration of sanity in the command, with protections for whistleblowers to foster a free and egalitarian society.
Edigin vowed "a festival of peaceful protest" if unmet, underscoring AHMWFES's commitment to eradicating institutional corruption and defending civil liberties.
"We will never rest until the last man is truly and totally free," he affirmed, invoking the group's motto.
As Edo grapples with these allegations, the onus falls heavily on Governor Okpebholo—a former senator and businessman known for his people-centric approach during the 2024 campaign—to bridge the gap between policy promises and on-ground realities.
However, earlier this year, the Edo State Police Command recovered ₦300,000 extorted from a furniture maker by officers attached to the Oba Market Area Command in Benin City.
According to a statement from the command’s spokesperson, CSP Joel Yamu officers involved in the extortion were detained and are currently facing disciplinary procedures under the Nigeria Police Force’s regulations.
Addressing journalists and civil society allies in Benin City, Coordinator General Comrade Oni Edigin painted a grim picture of daily life in Edo, where insecurity has eroded public trust in law enforcement.
"We now live in a state where kidnapping has become a source of livelihood," Edigin declared, highlighting how armed bandits terrorize communities, herders encroach on farmlands, and internet fraudsters—colloquially known as "Yahoo Yahoo boys"—thrive with alleged police assistance in "money recovery" schemes.
He accused the Edo State Police Command of transforming into a "rogue institution," prioritizing the protection of corrupt insiders over justice, with whistleblowers facing threats and harassment instead of commendation.
Edigin urged Okpebholo to "wake up to its responsibility of protecting its citizens' lives and property" as enshrined in the constitution.
The coalition, in conjunction with broader civil society organizations, lambasted CP Agbonika for fostering an environment where officers demand payments for bail, stationery, and even debt recovery, effectively turning stations into extortion hubs.
Edigin cited unheeded petitions sent as early as July 21, 2025, to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, the Police Service Commission, and the Senate Committee on Police Welfare, accusing Agbonika of shielding fraudsters while targeting truth-tellers.
"In any sane democracy, citizens providing useful information would be hailed as civic heroes, but in Edo State, such is twisted into a pretext for abduction and prosecution," he lamented.
The group, also known as AHMWFES emphasized that these violations—ranging from arbitrary arrests and unlawful detentions to aiding kidnappers and fraudsters—contravene the Police Act 2020, which mandates investigation before arrest and prohibits detaining suspects for civil offenses.
The group shared evidence of their complaints on social media platforms like WhatsApp, TikTok, and Facebook, and even directly to Agbonika's official channels, yet claimed the issues persist, with corrupt officers "celebrated" while the poor languish in prison.
Turning squarely to Governor Okpebholo, Edigin appealed: "The Edo State Government should, as a matter of urgency, ensure that its citizens are not trampled by any agent of Government, be it State or Federal, masquerading as enforcers of law and order."
He stressed the governor's pivotal role in upholding citizens' rights to freedom of information, accountability, and transparency, warning that failure to act could perpetuate a "culture of intimidation, fraud, extortion, and impunity" antithetical to Nigeria's democratic principles of unity, faith, peace, and progress.
The briefing culminated in a six-point demand list, with an immediate 14-day ultimatum to IGP Egbetokun and the Police Service Commission starting today.
The demands are;
– Immediate removal or transfer of CP Monday Agbonika and other implicated officers, citing his lack of professionalism and diplomacy.
– Urgent review of Edo's policing system by appointing security experts to boost accountability and transparency.
– Mandatory psychological evaluations for replacement officers, including redeployment of Deputy Commissioner of Police (CID) Isah Lawal.
– Training for officers on core duties: crime detection and prevention, not creation.
–
Full investigation and sanctioning of the Anti-Vice Unit for allegedly functioning as a debt recovery agency for fraudsters.
– Restoration of sanity in the command, with protections for whistleblowers to foster a free and egalitarian society.
Edigin vowed "a festival of peaceful protest" if unmet, underscoring AHMWFES's commitment to eradicating institutional corruption and defending civil liberties.
"We will never rest until the last man is truly and totally free," he affirmed, invoking the group's motto.
As Edo grapples with these allegations, the onus falls heavily on Governor Okpebholo—a former senator and businessman known for his people-centric approach during the 2024 campaign—to bridge the gap between policy promises and on-ground realities.
However, earlier this year, the Edo State Police Command recovered ₦300,000 extorted from a furniture maker by officers attached to the Oba Market Area Command in Benin City.
According to a statement from the command’s spokesperson, CSP Joel Yamu officers involved in the extortion were detained and are currently facing disciplinary procedures under the Nigeria Police Force’s regulations.
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