Organ Harvesting: Edo State Erupts in Violence, Police Station, Vehicles Set Ablaze Over Alleged Protection of Fulani Kidnappers (Video)

From Moshood Karim

The town of Agenebode, headquarters of Etsako East Local Government Area in Edo State, descended into chaos on Sunday after angry youths attacked a police station, set vehicles ablaze, and killed several individuals.

The violence erupted over allegations that the police were shielding Fulani criminals involved in kidnapping and organ harvesting in the area.

According to local reports, the tension had been brewing for weeks following the disappearance of a young boy who was kidnapped by suspected Fulani criminals.
Despite a ransom being paid for his release, the boy was not returned to his family, raising suspicions of foul play.

Community youths, acting on intelligence they had gathered, tracked the phone of the victim and managed to apprehend the user of the phone, who was reportedly handed over to the police. Further investigation by the youths allegedly linked the phone user to the leader of the Hausa/Fulani community in the area.

However, dissatisfaction with how the police handled the case led the youths to take matters into their own hands.

In a dramatic escalation, the youths stormed the police station, forcibly took the suspect into custody, and reportedly coerced him into revealing information that implicated the Hausa/Fulani leader in several kidnappings.
According to eyewitnesses, the leader confessed that kidnapped victims were killed and their bodies buried in shallow graves after their organs were harvested.

The situation took a grisly turn when the enraged youths exhumed the decomposing body of the kidnapped boy from the compound of the Fulani leader, prompting further discoveries of human bones believed to be those of other victims.

In retaliation, the youths set fire to the Fulani leader's residence and several business establishments belonging to other Hausa/Fulani community members. Some members of the community were reportedly killed in the attacks before the youths directed their anger towards the local police station, setting it ablaze.

One of the youths, speaking anonymously, expressed the community's frustration: "Enough is enough. This must stop. The police protect these kidnappers who take our children, collect millions in ransom, and still kill them. We are tired of living in fear."

The incident has drawn attention from high-ranking officials. The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) for Zone 5, Arungwa Udo, and Edo State Commissioner of Police, Nemi Edwin-Iwo, visited the area in an effort to restore order and assess the damage first-hand.

When contacted for an official statement, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, said he would provide further details "as soon as possible."

The violent unrest has left Agenebode in a state of shock, with residents calling for justice and accountability from both the police and the Fulani community.

As of the time of filing this report, the Chairman of Etsako East Local Government, Mrs. Benedicta Atoh, was reportedly too shocked to comment on the situation, according to one of her aides.

Authorities are expected to take further action in the coming days as tensions remain high in the town.