Authorities in Edo State say the remand of 52 protesters who claimed to be students follows days of unrest in Ekpoma that disrupted daily life, threatened public safety and damaged property, prompting what officials describe as a necessary intervention to preserve peace.
The arrests came after protests over insecurity—an issue that has affected several parts of Nigeria—spilled beyond peaceful assembly.
Residents and traders reported intimidation, harassment and sporadic theft, while transport and commercial activity were brought to a halt.
Security agencies said the situation crossed the threshold from lawful protest into public disorder, necessitating immediate action to prevent escalation.
According to the Nigeria Police Force, officers acted under their constitutional duty to maintain public order and protect lives and property.
The protesters were arraigned before a competent court and remanded pending further proceedings, a process police say reflects adherence to due process rather than arbitrary detention.
Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly, but it also allows for restrictions in the interest of public safety. Section 45 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) permits limitations on fundamental rights where necessary to maintain order. The Public Order Act further requires organisers of demonstrations to conduct assemblies peacefully and in ways that do not endanger the public.
Where protests devolve into violence or obstruction, the Criminal Code and state public order regulations empower law enforcement to intervene.
Officials stress that the action should be seen in context. In recent years, protests across the country—from labour actions to youth-led demonstrations—have repeatedly been infiltrated by non-peaceful actors.
Security sources say intelligence indicated the presence of individuals who were not students and who exploited the gathering to provoke disorder.
Authorities add that investigations will distinguish bona fide students from those who allegedly hijacked the protest, with outcomes guided by evidence presented in court.
The Edo State Government maintains that insecurity is a national challenge requiring coordinated federal and state responses, not street violence that endangers communities.
In recent months, the state says it has strengthened collaboration with federal security agencies, increased patrols on key routes and invested in intelligence-led operations—measures officials argue are undermined when protests turn chaotic.
For residents of Ekpoma, the immediate concern was the restoration of normalcy. Markets, schools and transport services were disrupted during the unrest, affecting livelihoods and access to services. “People could not go about their lawful work,” a community leader said, describing fear among shop owners and commuters.
Critics on social media have framed the arrests as a clampdown on dissent. Government and police officials counter that dissent is protected, disorder is not.
“No one is above the law,” a police spokesperson said, noting that students, like all citizens, are subject to legal boundaries.
“Peaceful protest is allowed; criminal conduct is not.”
The remand, authorities argue, sets a precedent intended to deter future attempts to exploit genuine grievances for political ends.
Investigations continue, and officials say the courts will determine individual culpability.
For now, security has been reinforced in Ekpoma, with patrols restored and public activity resuming.
As the legal process unfolds, the episode underscores a recurring tension in Nigeria’s democracy: balancing the right to protest with the imperative to protect lives and maintain order.
Edo’s response, officials insist, reflects that balance—firm action to calm the streets, alongside ongoing efforts to address the underlying security concerns that prompted the demonstrations in the first place.
Dr. G. Fraser. MFR
The National Patriots.
Headlinenews.news Special Investigative Report.
