Okpebholo Orders Release Of Detained Innocent Students Over Violent Ekpoma Protest

Barely 48 hours after a court in Benin City ordered the remand in prison custody of suspected protesters arrested over the wanton destruction of properties in Ekpoma, Esan South-West local government area of Edo State, during protest against insecurity at the weekend, Governor Monday Okpebholo, on Tuesday, has ordered the release of innocent students of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU) arrested alongside the suspects.

The students were among 52 persons arrested and subsequently remanded in Ubiaja Correctional Centre.

Governor Okpebholo stated this on Tuesday during a meeting with the President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, where issues surrounding the disturbance, arrests and security concerns were discussed at length.

According to the governor, intelligence available to the Edo State Government showed that the incident was orchestrated by a group identifying themselves as the “Ambrose Alli Comrade Community,” made up of individuals who are no longer students but loiter around the school environment for unlawful activities.

“I have met with the SUG President of AAU Ekpoma. We had a very lengthy discussion, and as I have consistently said, this was not a students’ protest. These are people who are no longer students but are just hanging around the school, causing trouble and extorting students. We will put an end to that,” the governor said.

Okpebholo further assured the SUG leadership that any genuine students who may have been arrested in the course of restoring order would be identified and released without delay.

“For students who were probably arrested, we will look into it and get them released to the SUG President. That is a promise I made, and I will do it as quickly as possible. The protest was not theirs. In fact, it was not a protest at all; it was an avenue to loot,” he added.

The governor also dismissed claims of kidnapping linked to the incident, describing them as false and stage-managed to mislead the public and create ethnic tension.

“The kidnapping they are talking about is fake. It was stage-managed. They were arranging to kidnap and release themselves. They even went as far as killing someone, which is the most painful part,” he said.

He condemned the burning of markets and destruction of property in Ekpoma, warning that anyone, regardless of political affiliation, found sponsoring or using hoodlums to destabilise Edo communities would be brought to justice.

“I don’t care whether you are a politician or not. If you are using people to destroy our land and economy, we will go after you. We know ourselves, and we will bring those responsible to book to ensure justice for our people,” he added.

He emphasised that the Edo State Government has nothing against AAU students, stressing that the institution remained closed and that there were no arrests within the university campus.

Reaffirming the students’ position, the SUG President of Ambrose Alli University, Comrade Osadebamen Ehizogie Michael, said it was unfortunate that attempts were being made to link the unrest to the student community.

“It is pitiable that some people want to associate what happened with students. We are here to formally debunk that, students did not organise any protest. His Excellency, Governor Monday Okpebholo, has been in touch with us and has assured us that any students among those arrested will be released,” the SUG President stated.

Also speaking, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of Ambrose Alli University, Prof. Andrew Eromonsele, confirmed that no arrests were made within the university campus, further distancing the institution from the unrest.

The meeting was also attended by the State’s Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu.