Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has ordered the release of students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, who were arrested following last weekend’s protests over rising kidnappings in the area.
The directive came after 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 perpetrated by students.
According to the governor, individuals who are no longer enrolled at the university but work in the campus environment were responsible for the unrest and extortion from students.
“I have met with the SUG president of AAU Ekpoma and after extensive discussion it is clear that this was not a protest by students,” Okpebholo said.
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“These are people who are no longer students but hang around the school, causing trouble and scaring students.”
Residents of Ekpoma and neighboring communities had on Saturday protested against incidents of kidnapping in the area. The demonstration, which also included AAU students, later turned violent, with reports that military personnel opened fire and injured a protester named Osagie Abraham.
After the incident, the police arrested dozens of protesters. A High Court in Edo State later ordered the remand of 52 suspects.
Okpebholo said any student wrongly arrested will be identified and released without any delay.
“If those arrested are genuine students, they will be released and handed over to the SUG leadership,” the governor said. He said that the state government has no quarrel with the AAU students.
He also warned that anyone sponsoring violence or using others to disrupt the state would be prosecuted, regardless of political affiliation.
Separately, the Nigeria Police Force said it had begun screening those arrested to identify legitimate students.
Police spokesman Benjamin Hundayin said the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed the Edo State Commissioner of Police to ensure that only suspects found guilty after investigation are charged.
“The instruction is to identify those who are actually students,” Hundeyin said during a Channel 4 television program on Tuesday night.
