Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has directed the immediate release of students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, who were arrested in connection with a recent protest in the state.
On Saturday, residents of Ekpoma and adjoining communities staged a protest over the rising cases of kidnapping in the area.
The protest, which had AAU students among the participants, later turned violent, with reports that military personnel shot and injured a protester identified as Osagie Abraham.
In the aftermath, a high court in Edo ordered the remand of 52 protesters who were arrested by the police.
Patrick Egbojele, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, said on Tuesday that Okpebholo gave the directive for the students’ release after holding a meeting with the leadership of the university’s Students’ Union Government (SUG).
According to the governor, intelligence reports available to the state government indicated that the violence was perpetrated by non-students who loiter around the university environment and extort students.
“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,” the governor was quoted as saying.
“These are people who are no longer students but are just hanging around the school, causing trouble and extorting students.”
Okpebholo assured that any genuine student arrested 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,” he said.
“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.”
The governor added that the state government holds no grievance against AAU students, stressing that no arrests were carried out within the university campus.
Police to Identify ‘Genuine Students’
Also speaking on the matter, Benjamin Hundeyin, police spokesperson, said the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had instructed the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, to screen those arrested and identify “genuine students”.
Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, Hundeyin said only suspects found culpable after investigations would be charged to court.
“The inspector-general of police has instructed the commissioner of police to identify those who are genuinely students,” he said on Tuesday night.