Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has directed that innocent students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, who were arrested alongside suspects during recent disturbances, should be released immediately.
The governor gave the directive on Tuesday while meeting with the President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of AAU, where they extensively discussed the unrest, arrests made by security agencies, and broader safety concerns within the community.
Governor Okpebholo explained that intelligence reports available to the state government revealed that the incident was not initiated by genuine students. Instead, it was allegedly coordinated by a group calling itself the “Ambrose Alli Comrade Community,” made up of individuals who are no longer students but frequently loiter around the university environment to engage in illegal activities.
“I have held a long and detailed meeting with the SUG President of AAU Ekpoma. As I have maintained from the beginning, this was not a students’ protest. These individuals are not students anymore; they are simply hanging around the school, creating trouble and extorting students. This will be stopped,” the governor stated.
He further assured the SUG leadership that any bona fide students who may have been caught up in the arrests during the operation to restore order would be identified and released promptly.
“If any real students were arrested, we will review the situation and ensure their release through the SUG President. That is a commitment I have made, and it will be fulfilled swiftly. The so-called protest did not belong to the students. In truth, it was not a protest but an opportunity for looting,” he added.
The governor also dismissed reports linking the incident to kidnapping, describing such claims as fabricated and deliberately staged to mislead the public and fuel ethnic tensions.
“The kidnapping allegations are false. It was all stage-managed. They planned to kidnap and later release themselves. The most painful aspect is that someone was eventually killed,” he said.
Okpebholo condemned the destruction of markets and public property in Ekpoma and warned that anyone, regardless of political status, found sponsoring or using hoodlums to destabilise Edo communities would face the full weight of the law.
“I don’t care if you are a politician or not. Anyone using people to destroy our land and economy will be pursued. We know those involved, and they will be held accountable to ensure justice for our people,” he declared.
He stressed that the Edo State Government harbours no hostility towards AAU students, noting that the university remains closed and that no arrests were carried out within the campus premises.
Last Saturday, residents of Ekpoma and surrounding communities staged a protest over rising cases of kidnapping in the area. The demonstration, which involved youths including AAU students, later turned violent. During the chaos, a military personnel allegedly shot and injured a 32-year-old protester, identified as Osagie Abraham.
In the aftermath of the protest, an Edo State High Court ordered the remand of 52 protesters who were arrested by the police.
