Title: Kidnap Fears Trigger Violence in Edo Community as Youths Burn Houses, Shops in Auchi Date Published: 07 March 2026 Description: Tension erupted in Auchi on Saturday as angry youths set houses ablaze and destroyed several shops in the Hausa quarters of the town following growing outrage over repeated kidnapping incidents.The unrest occurred in the Auchi Sacred Kingdom, where residents said frustration had been mounting for months over what they described as a worsening security crisis linked to frequent abductions.Community members said kidnappings had become a near-daily occurrence, with victims often forced to pay huge sums for their freedom.A member of the Otaru Council in the kingdom, who spoke anonymously to ARISE News, described the situation as unbearable for many residents.“For months now, we have been facing a lot of kidnapping issues. Every day, there must be a report of kidnapping,” the council member said.He added that kidnappers typically demand ransoms of up to N100 million, leaving families devastated and heightening fear across the community.The tension intensified earlier in the week when elderly women in the kingdom staged protests across major roads and streets, publicly laying curses on those responsible for the kidnappings and anyone suspected of aiding them.The protest reflected deep anger and desperation among residents who said they felt increasingly unsafe in their own community.According to the council member, the situation escalated on Saturday when groups of youths mobilised across the town in response to the growing insecurity.The youths reportedly began moving through parts of the community to identify individuals who they believed were living in the area without fixed residences.Community leaders said the youths demanded that anyone without a verifiable place of residence should leave the area.“Any Hausa without residence is asked to leave. We want every Hausa man or woman to have a place to stay in our community, not by hanging around,” the council member explained.He also claimed that some young men were often seen at night loitering on motorcycles and sleeping outdoors until morning, raising suspicions among residents.Amid the rising tension, youths reportedly stormed the Hausa quarters of Auchi, where they attacked homes and shops belonging to Hausa residents.Several shelters and business premises were vandalised and set on fire during the unrest, forcing many residents to flee for safety.Eyewitnesses said panic spread quickly across the area as families rushed to escape the violence.Security forces were later deployed to the area to restore calm and prevent the situation from escalating further.Personnel of the Nigerian Army were among the security agencies that intervened to contain the unrest.However, the council member criticised the military’s role during the confrontation, claiming that residents felt the soldiers were protecting Hausa settlers rather than the host community.“They are backing up the Hausa. They are protecting the Hausas, not the Auchi community,” he alleged.He said the soldiers had prevented women and youths from continuing their actions during the protest.Despite the criticism, the council member acknowledged that security personnel had been present in the area to prevent further destruction.He noted that many residents felt the response from security agencies had not been sufficient to address the root causes of the kidnapping crisis.“That is why the youth and the women came out en masse because they felt that the army was not doing the best of what is expected of them,” he said.Historically, Auchi has been regarded as a cosmopolitan community that welcomes people from various parts of the country to live and work there.Over the years, traders, artisans and workers from different ethnic backgrounds have settled in the town.However, some indigenes now argue that the long-standing tradition of hospitality has been strained by rising insecurity.Residents claim that migrants, particularly from northern Nigeria, arrive frequently in large numbers and settle in different parts of the community.Some locals also expressed concerns that the population of Hausa settlers in certain areas may now be larger than that of the indigenous residents.Community leaders say these demographic concerns, combined with the persistent kidnapping incidents, have heightened suspicion and tension within the kingdom.Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the violence as of the time of filing this report.Security agencies are expected to continue monitoring the situation closely to prevent further clashes and restore stability in the area.Local leaders have also called for dialogue and stronger security measures to address the kidnapping crisis and rebuild trust among the diverse communities living in Auchi. Attached Images: 420ccfb3fb524156fbaaae61388d5385dee20bec379d704a8aeddbcd8849cb59.png Attached Video: None