Benin City, Edo State – On May 5, 2025, a large group of activists gathered peacefully at Kings Square, Benin City, to call for the release of detained civil society members, Comrade Kola Edokpayi and Comrade Orako. The demonstrators, holding placards and chanting solidarity songs, marched toward the Department of State Services (DSS) office located in the Government Reservation Area (GRA).
The procession was halted approximately 50 meters from the DSS premises, where security personnel—including members of the military and civil defense—had set up a barricade to maintain order.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Comrade Rev. David Ugolor urged the authorities to release the detained activists unconditionally. He questioned the justification for their arrest and called for greater accountability from the DSS.
Key Demands from Protesters:
•Immediate release of Comrade Edokpayi and Comrade Orako
•An end to what they describe as repressive tactics by security agencies
•Refocusing of security efforts on pressing issues such as kidnapping and terrorism
Rev. Ugolor emphasized the need for security agencies to prioritize real threats facing the state, including rising cases of kidnapping and cult-related violence. He expressed concern that peaceful activists were being targeted while urgent public safety challenges remained unresolved.
He also acknowledged the prior engagement between the activists and the Edo State Police Command, led by Commissioner Monday Agbonika, which he described as professional. He noted that this engagement had led to the suspension of an earlier planned protest, making the subsequent arrest of the activists by the DSS all the more concerning.
Developments at the Court:
Eyewitness reports indicated that attempts by the DSS to file charges against the activists at the Edo State High Court were unsuccessful due to procedural issues. As of the time of this report, efforts to obtain an official statement from DSS authorities had not yielded a response.
The protest underscores increasing public scrutiny of the role of security agencies in civic affairs and raises ongoing questions about the protection of democratic freedoms in Edo State.
