Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has ordered the release of students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, arrested in the aftermath of last weekend’s protest over rising kidnappings in the area.
The directive follows a meeting between the governor and leaders of the university’s Students’ Union Government (SUG), after which Okpebholo said intelligence reports showed that the violence linked to the protest was not carried out by students.
According to the governor, individuals who are no longer enrolled at the university but operate around the campus environment were responsible for the unrest and for extorting students.
“I have met with the SUG president of AAU Ekpoma, and after extensive discussions, it is clear this was not a students’ protest,” Okpebholo said.
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“These are people who are no longer students but loiter around the school, causing trouble and intimidating students.”
Residents of Ekpoma and neighbouring communities had on Saturday staged a protest against a spate of kidnappings in the area. The demonstration, which included AAU students, later turned violent, with reports that military personnel fired shots and injured a protester identified as Osagie Abraham.
Following the incident, police arrested dozens of protesters. A high court in Edo State subsequently ordered the remand of 52 suspects.
Okpebholo said any student found to have been wrongly arrested would be identified and released without delay.
“If there are genuine students among those arrested, they will be released and handed over to the SUG leadership,” the governor said, adding that the state government had no quarrel with AAU students.
He also warned that anyone sponsoring violence or using others to disrupt the state would be pursued, regardless of political affiliation.
Separately, the Nigeria Police Force said it had begun screening those arrested to identify legitimate students.
Benjamin Hundeyin, police spokesperson, said the inspector-general of police, Kayode Egbetokun, had directed the Edo State commissioner of police to ensure only suspects found culpable after investigation are charged.
“The instruction is to identify those who are genuinely students,” Hundeyin said during a Channels Television programme on Tuesday night.
