The Edo State Police Command has removed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Ekpoma Division, SP Nelson Igbinoba, following the violent anti-kidnapping protest that made wave through the town last weekend.
Ekpoma, the headquarters of Esan West Local Government Area, was thrown into turmoil on Saturday, January 10, 2026, when a protest by residents—largely youths and students—over rising cases of kidnapping turned chaotic.
What began as a peaceful protest later escalated, leading to the destruction of houses and vehicles, the looting of shops, and the killing of livestock.
In a statement on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, announced that CSP Tomofe Nwabueze has been appointed to take over the division, with immediate effect. He confirmed that the new DPO has already assumed duty.
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According to the Command, the change forms part of a broader security review and operational reshuffling aimed at stabilising Ekpoma after the unrest. The Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, was said to have approved the reorganisation of the division as part of efforts to strengthen policing in the area.
Meanwhile, 52 people arrested in connection with the violence have been arraigned in court and remanded at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre. They are expected to remain in custody until February 26, 2026, pending further proceedings.
