The Edo State Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights has condemned the death of a young Catholic seminarian, Alabi Emmanuel, who reportedly died in captivity months after being abducted alongside two of his colleagues by gunmen at the Immaculate Minor Seminary, Ivhianakpodi, in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.
In a statement released in Benin City, the group’s Coordinator General, Marxist Kola Edokpayi, and Secretary General, Comrade Aghatise Raphael, described the incident as “a moral failure of leadership and a national disgrace,” accusing the government and security agencies of negligence and indifference.
“The loss of this young seminarian is not merely a personal tragedy, it is a national disgrace and a moral failure of leadership. The people of Edo deserve more than condolences; they deserve protection, justice, and accountability,” the group declared.
The activists lamented that despite repeated appeals and public statements urging authorities to rescue the abducted seminarians, there was no decisive response. “For months, we issued passionate appeals and press releases urging those in authority to act decisively to rescue these innocent children from the kidnappers. Yet, our pleas were met with silence and bureaucratic indifference. Today, that silence has birthed another grave, a grave filled with youthful promises, broken dreams, and a destiny cruelly cut short,” the statement read.
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According to the coalition, Emmanuel’s death highlights the growing insecurity in Edo State and the government’s failure to prioritize the protection of lives. “The blood of Alabi Emmanuel cries out, it will forever stain the conscience of every person and institution that had the power to act but chose indifference when humanity demanded courage,” the statement continued.
The group called for immediate action to dismantle kidnapping networks and bring those responsible to justice. “How long shall this cycle of impunity, negligence, and moral decay persist? How many more sons and daughters must we bury before the sanctity of human life regains its rightful place in governance?” it queried.
They urged both the Edo State Government and federal authorities to take concrete steps toward securing communities and restoring public confidence in law enforcement.
“May the soul of Alabi Emmanuel find eternal rest, and may his death awaken the slumbering conscience of those who wield power yet refuse to wield compassion,” the coalition concluded.
The death of the seminarian has sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s security architecture, especially in states where abductions have become increasingly common.
