Okpebholo Orders Release Of AAU Students Arrested In Ekpoma Protest

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has ordered the release of students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), arrested during the recent protests in Ekpoma.

The first group of seven suspects has already been freed.

Edo State Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu, who oversaw the release, said that only confirmed students would be allowed to go.

Speaking with the President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, on Tuesday, Governor Okpebholo clarified that the unrest on Saturday was not led by students.

He described the disturbance as a criminal act carried out by non-students loitering around the campus to cause trouble and exploit law-abiding students.

The governor said, “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.” 

Okpebholo assured the SUG that any genuine students who were mistakenly arrested while order was being restored would be identified and released promptly.

“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 during the incident, calling them false and staged to mislead the public and stir 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.

Okpebholo condemned the destruction of markets and property in Ekpoma and warned that anyone, including politicians, found funding or using hoodlums to disrupt communities in Edo State would face 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.

This comes hours after Edo State High Court, Criminal Court ordered that several youths arrested during the protests in Ekpoma be remanded at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre.