Inside Edo
Edo Activists ramp up pressure on Police commissioner, warns of 'Festival of Protests' over bail extortion
Written By: Ehioze Gilbert
26 Nov 2025 04:59 AM
Benin, Edo – In a fiery declaration that has ignited fresh tensions in Edo State's security landscape, Leftist Dickson John Esq, Secretary General of the AHMWFES Bail is Free Campaign Organization, has issued a stark ultimatum to Commissioner of Police (CP) Monday Agbonika, vowing relentless protests if the top cop attempts to extend his controversial tenure.
The statement, shared on activist networks, signals an escalation in the group's year-long crusade against alleged police extortion and rights abuses, with organizers teasing a "festival of protest loading" to demand systemic change.
John's missive, circulated amid swirling rumors of Agbonika's potential lobbying for retention, pulls no punches.
"If CP Monday Agbonika likes, let him try to lobby his way to remain in Edo state, we will make sure that his wish never come to the day light," he wrote, framing the fight as a non-negotiable battle for justice.
He continued: "Festival of protest loading! We will never rest until the last man is truly and totally free, freedom cometh by struggles. Remember! Nobody will willingly give you your rights unless you demand and take it by force. The oppressors will never let go unless by a more stronger and powerful hand."
The rhetoric echoes the group's foundational mantra bail is a constitutional right, not a revenue stream for corrupt officers, a principle they've championed through street demonstrations, media blitzes, and direct appeals to authorities since launching in Edo and neighboring Delta State earlier this year.
John's words come just weeks after a November 6 ultimatum expired without resolution, where the group accused the Edo Police Command of widespread misconduct under Agbonika's watch, including fabricated charges against activists and complicity in crimes.
Agbonika, assumed office as Edo's 50th Commissioner in April 2025, amid a backdrop of vigilante killings in Uromi that had eroded public trust in law enforcement. His early tenure saw public affirmations of zero tolerance for bail fees, with a viral October video where he warned officers against flouting the directive.
Yet, critics like the Bail is Free Campaign argue these pledges ring hollow, pointing to persistent reports of extortion at police stations, arbitrary arrests, and a spike in "false charges" weaponized against whistleblowers.
The campaign, also known as Association of Humble Men And Women For Egalitarian Society (AHMWFES), emerged from grassroots coalitions frustrated by Nigeria's entrenched police corruption. In September, activists stormed the state police headquarters in a high-profile protest, demanding an end to "bail-for-cash" schemes that disproportionately burden the poor.
By October 25, they escalated to a formal call for Agbonika's ouster, citing "unprofessional conduct" by subordinates as a direct reflection of leadership failure.
Tensions peaked in early November when the group's 14-day ultimatum issued lapsed without action, prompting John to "fume" over the government's silence. Sources within the movement say the latest statement is timed to preempt any behind-the-scenes maneuvers by Agbonika, whose term could face renewal scrutiny amid Edo's broader security challenges.
The Edo State Police Command, under Agbonika, has maintained a posture of operational successes to counter the narrative. In mid-October, the force touted arrests of kidnappers, rescues of victims from forests and interdictions of supply lines to criminal hideouts, efforts John and allies dismiss as "smoke screens" for deeper rot.
The statement, shared on activist networks, signals an escalation in the group's year-long crusade against alleged police extortion and rights abuses, with organizers teasing a "festival of protest loading" to demand systemic change.
John's missive, circulated amid swirling rumors of Agbonika's potential lobbying for retention, pulls no punches.
"If CP Monday Agbonika likes, let him try to lobby his way to remain in Edo state, we will make sure that his wish never come to the day light," he wrote, framing the fight as a non-negotiable battle for justice.
He continued: "Festival of protest loading! We will never rest until the last man is truly and totally free, freedom cometh by struggles. Remember! Nobody will willingly give you your rights unless you demand and take it by force. The oppressors will never let go unless by a more stronger and powerful hand."
The rhetoric echoes the group's foundational mantra bail is a constitutional right, not a revenue stream for corrupt officers, a principle they've championed through street demonstrations, media blitzes, and direct appeals to authorities since launching in Edo and neighboring Delta State earlier this year.
John's words come just weeks after a November 6 ultimatum expired without resolution, where the group accused the Edo Police Command of widespread misconduct under Agbonika's watch, including fabricated charges against activists and complicity in crimes.
Agbonika, assumed office as Edo's 50th Commissioner in April 2025, amid a backdrop of vigilante killings in Uromi that had eroded public trust in law enforcement. His early tenure saw public affirmations of zero tolerance for bail fees, with a viral October video where he warned officers against flouting the directive.
Yet, critics like the Bail is Free Campaign argue these pledges ring hollow, pointing to persistent reports of extortion at police stations, arbitrary arrests, and a spike in "false charges" weaponized against whistleblowers.
The campaign, also known as Association of Humble Men And Women For Egalitarian Society (AHMWFES), emerged from grassroots coalitions frustrated by Nigeria's entrenched police corruption. In September, activists stormed the state police headquarters in a high-profile protest, demanding an end to "bail-for-cash" schemes that disproportionately burden the poor.
By October 25, they escalated to a formal call for Agbonika's ouster, citing "unprofessional conduct" by subordinates as a direct reflection of leadership failure.
Tensions peaked in early November when the group's 14-day ultimatum issued lapsed without action, prompting John to "fume" over the government's silence. Sources within the movement say the latest statement is timed to preempt any behind-the-scenes maneuvers by Agbonika, whose term could face renewal scrutiny amid Edo's broader security challenges.
The Edo State Police Command, under Agbonika, has maintained a posture of operational successes to counter the narrative. In mid-October, the force touted arrests of kidnappers, rescues of victims from forests and interdictions of supply lines to criminal hideouts, efforts John and allies dismiss as "smoke screens" for deeper rot.
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