…Okpebholo maintained that those arrested were rioters, not peaceful protesters
BENIN, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has directed the immediate release of bona fide students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, who were remanded at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre following their arraignment by police over the Ekpoma anti-kidnapping protest that later turned violent.
The students were among those arrested after the protest in Esan West Local Government Area degenerated into unrest. Governor Okpebholo alleged that the demonstration was sponsored by a Nigerian living in Russia, describing it as a coordinated riot rather than a peaceful protest.
The development came amid growing concern from families of the detained students, who lamented their continued incarceration. Some parents insisted their children were picked up from hostels and had no involvement in the protest. One parent, Rabi Braimah, said they were informed that the High Court in Ubiaja did not sit, delaying legal proceedings, while another family member disclosed that a lawyer had been engaged to pursue their release.
The Principal Registrar of the Edo State High Court, Ubiaja, Mrs Comfort Agbonire, explained that the court could not sit because it recently lost two lawyers. She added that the police prosecutor was yet to formally transmit the remand papers, after which defence lawyers could file applications.
Meanwhile, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan condemned the arrest and detention of 52 students, calling for their immediate release and warning against criminalising student protests.
At about 1:20 p.m. on Monday, the Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu, accompanied by the AAU Students’ Union President, Osadebamwen Ehizioje, announced that the governor had instructed him to liaise with prison authorities to secure the release of all verified AAU students. Iyamu blamed the violence on a group known as the “Comrade Association,” alleging that its members were largely non-students and former students who exploited the situation to cause unrest and vandalism.
He dismissed reports circulating on social media as misinformation, stressing that the Students’ Union was not involved and that the institution was not in session at the time of the protest.
In a separate statement, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Patrick Ebojele, said investigations revealed that the violence was funded by Nigerians based overseas, adding that arrests were made based on video evidence showing arson and destruction of property. Okpebholo maintained that those arrested were rioters, not peaceful protesters, and insisted the incident had no link to AAU students or the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
The governor assured residents that security had been restored in Ekpoma and urged the public to disregard fake videos and unverified claims.
Reacting to the incident, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticised the Federal Government over what he described as the heavy-handed response to the students’ protest, warning that peaceful protest is a constitutional right. He called for the immediate release of those detained, arguing that the focus should be on tackling insecurity rather than suppressing civic expression.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan echoed similar sentiments, describing the arrests as a dangerous suppression of youth voices. She urged the Edo State Government to prioritise addressing kidnappings and insecurity instead of detaining students, stressing that dialogue, not detention, remains the path to peace and progress.
