Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has ordered the release of what he called authentic students of Ambrose Alli University, AAU, Ekpoma, who were remanded at the Ubiaja correctional facility following their arraignment by the police over a protest in Ekpoma that later turned violent.
The students were arrested in connection with an anti-kidnapping protest in Esan West Local Government Area, which authorities say degenerated into acts of violence.
Okpebholo maintained that the incident was not a legitimate student protest and alleged that it was sponsored by a Nigerian living in Russia, along with other individuals abroad.
The arrests sparked concern among families of those detained, many of whom insisted their children were innocent. A woman, whose son and his friends were among those remanded, said the students were taken from their hostels and did not participate in the protest. She also raised concerns over delays in court proceedings.
“They told us that the court will not sit today (yesterday) and that it is when they start sitting they will attend to them (detained students). My brother said he has contacted a lawyer.”
Another family member said legal steps were being taken to secure the release of his brother. The Principal Registrar of the Edo State High Court in Ubiaja, Comfort Agbonire, explained that the court had not sat because it recently lost two lawyers and was awaiting the police prosecutor to submit remand papers before defence counsel could file applications.
The Commissioner for Education in the state, Paddy Iyamu, accompanied by the AAU Students’ Union president, Osadebamwen Ehizioje, said the governor had instructed him to work with prison authorities to free all bona fide AAU students.
Iyamu argued that the violence was orchestrated by a group known as the Comrade Association, which he said is made up largely of non-students and former students.
He blamed misinformation on social media and questioned the legitimacy of the protest, noting that the Students’ Union leadership was not involved and that the university was not in session.
“When you are going for a peaceful protest, you carry your placard, you send the message across to the government, you comport yourself properly. But that didn’t happen.”
In a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Patrick Ebojele, the protest was described as a well-organised riot. Okpebholo said arrests were based on video evidence showing arson and vandalism, stressing that those in custody were rioters, not peaceful protesters.
He added that 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 remain calm.
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