Date: March 7, 2026 l Reporter: Mensah
Violence has broken out in Auchi, Edo State, after angry youths protesting rising insecurity stormed the town’s Hausa quarters, setting several houses and shops on fire.
The unrest followed growing frustration among residents over persistent kidnapping incidents in the area. Community members said kidnappings had become frequent, with some victims’ families reportedly being asked to pay ransom as high as ₦100 million for their release.
Tensions had been building for days before the violence erupted. Elderly women in the community had earlier staged peaceful protests, publicly condemning the kidnappings and calling for an end to the insecurity that has plagued the town.
However, the situation escalated on Saturday when groups of youths mobilised across the community, accusing some residents in the Hausa quarters of being linked to the insecurity. During the unrest, they stormed the area and burned down several homes and businesses belonging to Hausa residents, forcing many people to flee for safety.
Community leaders said the youths were demanding that all residents in the area have verifiable places of residence, arguing that some individuals without fixed addresses were contributing to criminal activities in the town.
Security forces, including Nigerian Army personnel, were later deployed to the area to restore order and prevent the violence from escalating further.
Auchi has historically been known as a town that welcomes people from different parts of Nigeria for business and settlement. However, the latest unrest highlights growing tensions fueled by rising insecurity and frustration among residents.
Authorities are yet to confirm the extent of the damage or whether any casualties were recorded, but the incident has heightened fears of further communal tensions in the region.