In a surprising turn of events, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has intervened by ordering the release of 52 students from Ambrose Alli University (AAU) who were arrested during a protest against kidnapping held in Ekpoma, located in the Esan West Local Government Area. This decision comes after significant public backlash regarding their detention.
The governor asserted that the students maintained their innocence throughout the ordeal and actively collaborated with university officials to clarify their stance. During a meeting on Tuesday with Osadebamen Ehizogie Michael, the President of the AAU’s Students’ Union Government (SUG), he expressed concerns that the protest wasn't organized by genuine students. Instead, he characterized it as a criminal act perpetrated by non-students who had infiltrated the university environment with the intent to disturb peace and exploit law-abiding students.
Governor Okpebholo shared this perspective through a statement released by his spokesperson, Patrick Ebojele. He mentioned that intelligence reports suggested the protest was orchestrated by a group calling themselves the “Ambrose Alli Comrade Community,” which is composed of individuals who have graduated but linger around the institution engaging in unlawful activities.
"We assure that any authentic students who were mistakenly caught up in the efforts to restore order will be identified and released promptly," the governor promised. He further noted that any students detained would be returned to the President of the SUG, emphasizing his commitment to addressing the situation.
In alignment with the governor's statements, the SUG has distanced itself from the protest. They explicitly denied any involvement or organization of the event in Ekpoma, labeling attempts to associate the incident with the student body as "pitiful and misleading.”
In a video statement, SUG President Osadebamen Ehizogie Michael reiterated that the protest did not fall under the purview of either the SUG or the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). He expressed disappointment over the misrepresentation of the students’ involvement, insisting on their innocence and urging the Edo State Government and security forces to ensure the immediate release of those arrested.
Supporting the SUG’s claims, a senior official from the university confirmed that investigations revealed that the protest was not initiated by AAU students. "As indicated by the Student Union President, this protest was conducted by individuals who are no longer affiliated with our institution," the official stated. "We are grateful to His Excellency for his assurance that our students will be released soon."
This official also mentioned that the university administration had already interacted with the detained students, all of whom denied taking part in the protest. Additionally, they noted that although a roundtable discussion was scheduled to include all relevant parties, members from the community allegedly responsible for the unrest failed to attend.
SaharaReporters previously reported that the police apprehended at least 52 students from their hostels during a midnight raid, following a widespread protest by local residents concerning increased kidnappings and heightened insecurity in the region. Eyewitness accounts reveal that the arrests were part of a coordinated operation, with police officers indiscriminately taking students from their accommodations rather than at the protest site itself.
One student recounted, "They came to our hostels at night and began arresting students. Many of us were asleep in our rooms and were not even present when the protest occurred."
On Monday, these detained students were brought before a court in Edo State, where police sought an order to keep them in custody. Official documents indicate that the police requested a remand order for an initial 14 days while awaiting advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) at the Edo State Ministry of Justice. This request, dated January 12, 2026, aimed to keep the students at the Benin City Correctional Custodial Centre as investigations proceed.
The backdrop of these legal actions follows a mass protest by Ekpoma residents, who expressed their frustrations over escalating kidnapping incidents and a general sense of insecurity. During this demonstration, frustrated locals destroyed campaign billboards set up across the town in anticipation of the upcoming 2027 general elections, accusing politicians of prioritizing early electioneering over the safety of their constituents.
