Prosper Okoye
Former chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, has warned that proposals to restrict residency in Edo State could trigger retaliation in other parts of the country and exacerbate ethnic tensions.
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Prof Odinkalu was responding to calls by Aigbokhan Oseremen, convener of the Esan Worldwide Community, who had urged the Edo State Government to require non-indigenes to obtain permits before settling in villages, citing insecurity linked to kidnapping and banditry.
In a televised interview, Mr Oseremen argued that unmonitored settlement, particularly by herders, had worsened security in rural communities. He called for profiling of outsiders and the removal of makeshift camps in forest areas to curb criminal activity.
Prof Odinkalu questioned why such restrictions were being proposed only for certain groups and cautioned that states controlled by Fulani political elites could respond with similar measures, raising the risk of a cycle of retaliation.
The intervention comes amid rising tension in parts of Edo Central, where residents recently protested against kidnappings and killings.
Videos circulating online showed suspected cattle breeders fleeing a local market as demonstrators gathered.
The Edo State Government has said it is pursuing lawful, technology-driven measures to enhance security. Governor Monday Okpebholo’s media adviser, Bugie Okhuemoi, said authorities were working to identify and remove criminal elements from forest areas, and results would soon become visible.
Nigeria has long faced rural insecurity, particularly clashes between herders and farming communities. Analysts have warned that broad residency controls risk punishing entire groups for the actions of a few and undermining constitutional rights.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
