PDP Demands Release Of 52 AAU Students Arrested After Ekpoma Protest

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the immediate and unconditional release of 52 students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, who were remanded in custody following last Friday’s protest against rising insecurity in the town.

The opposition party described the continued detention of the students as unjustified and excessive, insisting that the demonstration was a lawful civic action that later spiralled out of control after it was allegedly infiltrated by hoodlums.

In a statement issued late on Monday, the PDP Publicity Secretary, Dan Osa-Ogbegie, faulted the state government’s handling of the incident, accusing it of resorting to repression rather than addressing the root causes of insecurity in Ekpoma and surrounding communities.

According to him, the protest was an expression of public frustration over persistent kidnappings and violent crimes, stressing that penalising students and other residents who participated peacefully amounted to a violation of their constitutional rights.

The PDP alleged that the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo had failed to stem the tide of criminal activities in the area, leaving residents exposed to kidnappers and other violent groups. It warned that criminalising peaceful protest could stifle democratic expression and erode public trust in governance.

“The arrest and continued detention of peaceful protesters, many of them students, reveals a disturbing intolerance for civic engagement,” the party stated, adding that only an administration uncomfortable with accountability would suppress lawful dissent.

While reiterating its condemnation of kidnapping, killings and all forms of violence, the PDP urged the state government to focus on dismantling criminal networks allegedly operating with impunity across Ekpoma and neighbouring communities.

Ekpoma had been tense at the weekend after a protest against worsening insecurity degenerated into violence. The demonstration, which began with residents blocking a major highway to draw attention to their plight, reportedly took a different turn when miscreants hijacked the process.

During the unrest, traders at a livestock market were attacked, while the palace of the Onojie of Ekpoma, Zaiki Anthony Abumere II, was vandalised, an incident that drew condemnation from Governor Okpebholo.

The protest was sparked by public outrage over recurring abductions and the killing of a youth on Friday night, incidents that have heightened fear among residents.

Confirming developments, the Edo State Police Command said one person was shot during the disturbance by a soldier. The police added that the matter had been handed over to military authorities for further investigation.