Dare Babalola
The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party and the National Association of Nigerian Students have called for the immediate and unconditional release of students of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, who were remanded in prison over their alleged involvement in Friday’s protest in the town.
They also condemned what was described as the state government’s poor handling of the security situation in the area.
In a statement issued on Monday by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Dan Osa-Ogbegie, the PDP alleged that Ekpoma had been abandoned to kidnappers and violent criminals, with residents living in fear as attacks escalated unchecked.
In a criticism of the All Progressives Congress-led Edo State Government under Governor Monday Okpebholo, the PDP described the handling of worsening insecurity in Ekpoma and its environs as a mix of incompetence, indifference and authoritarian reflexes.
The party accused the Okpebholo administration of lacking a credible security strategy, arguing that instead of confronting criminal gangs through intelligence-led policing and coordinated action, the government had chosen what it called the option of unleashing state power against unarmed and peaceful citizens.
The statement partly read, “The arrest and continued detention of peaceful protesters, many of them students, exposes the true character of the APC government in Edo State—brutal towards citizens, timid before criminals, and hostile to democratic expression.
“As a party, we are opposed to kidnapping and killings in all their forms and demand the immediate dismantling of criminal networks operating freely across Ekpoma and neighbouring communities.”
On its part, NANS in a Monday statement signed by its National Public Relations Officer, Adeyemi Ajasa, described the detention as “ridiculous, unacceptable, and deeply disturbing,” insisting that students exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest should not face intimidation, harassment, or psychological trauma.
“Peaceful protest is not a crime, and demanding safety should never be met with repression,” the statement read.
NANS also urged the Edo State Government, AAU management, and the Nigeria Police Force to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the detained students, adding, “Their safety, physical and mental wellbeing must be guaranteed at all times.”
The student body further demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all the students, warning that any attempt to delay or justify their detention would be “viewed as a deliberate act of oppression against the Nigerian student community.”
NANS criticised authorities for criminalising students instead of addressing the genuine insecurity affecting schools and host communities.
“It is alarming that instead of addressing the genuine concerns of kidnapping and insecurity, authorities have chosen to criminalise students for speaking out.
Recall that Ekpoma, in Esan West Local Government Area of the state, was thrown into crisis after a peaceful protest over insecurity on Saturday turned violent.
Hoodlums reportedly hijacked the protest and attacked traders at a livestock market. They also vandalised the palace of the Onojie of Ekpoma, Zaiki Anthony Abumere II—an act condemned by Governor Okpebholo.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, confirmed that one person was shot by a soldier, adding that the incident had been referred to military authorities for investigation.
The crisis began after residents staged a protest over rising insecurity, including kidnappings and the killing of a youth on Friday night.
The protesters blocked a major highway to express their grievances, but the demonstration was later hijacked by miscreants who turned it violent.
