Nigerian troops shoot anti-terrorist protesters
- M. Kiara | TruthNigeria
- 20 hours ago
- 4 min read
In Nigeria, Protests Draw Gunfire While Terrorists Operate Unchecked
TruthNigeria
January 13, 2026
By M. Kiara
Face of Army officer who allegedly shot an unarmed protester in Edo state.
‘Nigeria’s security forces respond to protest faster than to crime‘
(Ekpoma, Edo State) – A Nigerian soldier opened fire on an unarmed protester in Edo State Jan. 10 after residents took to the streets demanding protection from kidnappings and Fulani terrorist attacks.
The shooting echoed the 2020 Lekki Toll Gate crackdown, reinforcing youth fears that protest draws faster force than crime does deterrence.
More than five years later, in the university town of Ekpoma, the same lesson resurfaced: protest can still be met with bullets, even when citizens are demanding protection from terrorism.
A Protest Born of Fear, Not Politics
The protest in Ekpoma, located 50 miles northeast of Benin City (the state capital), was triggered by a surge in abductions by Fulani Terrorists, including the abduction of two medical doctors, the killing of one captive, and the seizure of passengers from a commercial bus.
Residents say the violence had reached a breaking point.
“This was not about politics or elections,” one protester told TruthNigeria, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons. “People came out because kidnappings had become normal. We felt abandoned but the message has been received, if you come out to protest, you may not go home.”
During the protest, Osagie Abraham, a 32-year-old unarmed demonstrator, was shot by a soldier. Police authorities say he survived and is receiving treatment at a local hospital.
The shooting revived memories many youths say they never forgot.
“One bullet is enough to end a movement,” the protester said. “That is what Lekki taught us. We hoped things had changed. Security operatives with a mandate to protect, kill instead.”
Terror Close to Home
Map showing Auchi’s location | Photo Credit: Sahara reporters.
In Auchi, about 30 miles north of Ekpoma, the violence had already turned fatal.
Fulani terrorists abducted two brothers from their home. One of them, Abu Momoh, was later killed. The other, a medical doctor, remains in captivity.
Daily life has been disrupted across the region. Students avoid evening classes. Farmers abandon fields. Families relocate to cities they believe are safer.
Aigbokhan Oseremen, an Edo-based activist, rejected official descriptions of the attackers as ordinary herders.
“These are not herders,” Oseremen said. “They are Fulani terrorists.”
“Trailer loads of these terrorists are brought into Edo State regularly,” he added. “When people are settled with no jobs, no accountability, and access to weapons, kidnapping becomes a business.”
Oseremen said armed groups have established permanent settlements deep inside forest areas.
“They have wives, children, and camps,” he said. “From those forests, they come out to attack villages. This is not a random crime. It is organized.”
Why Youths Stayed Silent After 2020
After the Lekki shootings, Nigeria’s youth movement collapsed almost overnight. Organizers were arrested or intimidated. Court cases stalled. No senior official was convicted.
“Youths didn’t stop caring,” said Martins Otse, a Nigerian activist. “They stopped believing the state would tolerate protest.
Otse described what he called a pattern.
“In 2020, peaceful protesters were shot at Lekki by army officers,” he said. “In December 2025, women protesting terrorism were shot in Adamawa by the army. In January 2026, a protester was shot in Ekpoma by an army officer.
“Each time,” he added, “there is denial, silence, and no accountability. That is the lesson people learn.”
Amnesty International has documented similar cases.
“These are not accidents,” said Isa Sanusi, director of Amnesty International Nigeria. “They reflect a persistent disregard for rules governing crowd control and the protection of civilians.”
Terrorism Expands as Protest Shrinks
While protesters face force, analysts say armed groups operate with little interference.
“Nigeria struggles to deter terrorists, but still treats protest as a threat,” said Tolu Adelu, a security researcher who spoke to TruthNigeria. “That imbalance explains youth silence.”
According to SBM Intelligence, kidnapping in Nigeria has evolved into a scientifically refined, profit-driven industry. Between July 2024 and June 2025, at least 4,722 people were abducted nationwide, with criminals demanding more than $33 million in ransom.
“These are organized networks operating in weakly governed spaces,” SBM reported. “They are not being meaningfully disrupted.”
Government Promises, Public Distrust
Police described the Ekpoma protest as “hijacked” and announced an investigation into the shooting. Authorities also say security operations have been intensified.
Students arrested during the protest have been remanded in custody, prompting public criticism.
Osaigbovo Junior, an Edo resident, said the official response was predictable.
“We expected the government to say the protest was hijacked,” he told TruthNigeria. “That is always the excuse.”
“We were asking to be protected,” he said. “Instead, force was used. You beat people and tell them not to cry. That cannot work.”
A Narrowing Civic Space
Former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal recently warned that Nigeria is “in peril,” calling for honest leadership and national reckoning.
For youths in Ekpoma, the reckoning feels immediate.
They protested terrorism and were met with gunfire.
Citizens say the danger is no longer only in the forests, it is also on the street when citizens speak.
M. Kiara reports on conflict and terrorism for TruthNigeria
Copyright 2026 TruthNigeria
