…On the day I was sworn in, I made it clear that I would revive AAU,” he said.
EDO, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | Students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, who were arrested during a recent protest and remanded at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre, have regained their freedom alongside other detainees.
The release was confirmed in a statement issued on Thursday by the Chief Press Secretary to Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, Patrick Ebojele.
The AAU students were among 52 individuals remanded by a Benin High Court over charges related to malicious damage and armed robbery. Their arrest followed a protest against insecurity in Ekpoma last Saturday, which reportedly turned violent after hoodlums hijacked the demonstration.
According to reports, miscreants attacked traders, set tyres on fire and blocked roads, incidents that were widely circulated on social media.
Governor Okpebholo later met with the freed AAU students and other affected persons during a stakeholders’ engagement at the Banquet Hall of Government House in Benin, where he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to dialogue, reforms and the development of Ambrose Alli University.
The governor expressed deep concern over the violence, particularly in view of his plans to revive the institution.
“I was deeply pained by what happened in my place. On the day I was sworn in, I made it clear that I would revive AAU,” he said.
He disclosed that the university previously operated on a subvention of ₦41 million, which he described as inadequate, noting that a single consultant reportedly earned ₦59 million under the previous administration.
Okpebholo said his government had since increased the institution’s monthly subvention to ₦500 million as part of efforts to reposition the university.
“Since then, our focus has been on reviving the school, moving it forward and repositioning it,” he added.
The governor also revealed that salary and wage arrears owed to AAU staff were estimated at about ₦41 billion, assuring that plans were in place to gradually settle the outstanding obligations.
He warned students against being used by criminal elements, urging them to concentrate on their studies and embrace peaceful engagement.
“Don’t allow yourself to be used. Read your books so that you can be like us,” he said.
Acknowledging the security challenges in Ekpoma and other parts of the country, Okpebholo described insecurity as a shared concern but noted that investigations showed many crimes in the area were committed by locals.
He condemned the destruction of shops and looting during the protest, describing such actions as counterproductive, and assured residents that criminals would not find safe haven in Edo State.
Commissioner for Education, Dr Paddy Iyamu, commended the governor for facilitating the students’ release and opting for dialogue over force.
Other speakers at the meeting also praised the intervention, while the event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa; Chief of Staff, Gani Audu; the Minister of Youth; the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Youth Engagement; and other top government officials.
