The Edo State Government has alleged that the recent protest in Ekpoma was not a peaceful demonstration but a "well-organised riot" allegedly sponsored by Nigerians living in Russia and other countries. In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Patrick Ebojele, the government dismissed social media reports on the incident as false and misleading, describing them as part of a coordinated attempt to misinform the public and destabilise the state.
According to the statement, security agencies have identified the alleged masterminds who reportedly contacted individuals in Ekpoma and offered to sponsor coordinated riots in Ekpoma, Auchi, Irrua and even the Government House in Benin City, with funds traced to the diaspora.
On the involvement of Ambrose Ali University (AAU), Ekpoma, students, and government said those arrested and facing prosecution were students of the institution, stressing that their arrest was based on available intelligence and evidence. It noted that AAU had been closed and that students had vacated their hostels long before the incident.
“Those arrested were intercepted while allegedly heading to vandalise property on campus, while others were faces identified on the viral video of the incident showing various acts of arson carried out,” the statement said, adding that most arrests were backed by clear video evidence of violence and destruction.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) condemned the continued detention of 52 AAU students, whom it said were peacefully protesting against rising kidnapping and insecurity. NANS spokesperson, Adeyemi Samson Ajasa, described the detention as “ridiculous, unacceptable, and deeply disturbing,” insisting that peaceful protest is a constitutional right.
“NANS categorically states that the government, the management of Ambrose Alli University, and the Nigeria Police Force must jointly ensure that nothing happens to any of the detained students… We further demand the immediate and unconditional release of all 52 students,” Ajasa said, warning of lawful mobilisation if the demand was ignored. SERAP also appealed to the state government to secure the students’ immediate release.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar similarly criticised the Federal Government, describing the detention of the students as unacceptable and an act of intolerance, noting that the right to protest is guaranteed by the constitution.
Consequently, the Edo State Government announced that bona fide AAU students remanded at the Correctional Centre would be released. The Commissioner for Education, Dr Paddy Iyamu, said the protest was orchestrated by a group known as the ‘Comrade Association’, made up of former students, and assured that genuine students would regain their freedom after due process.
In a related development, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, ordered the redeployment of the Ekpoma Divisional Police Officer and approved the posting of CSP Tomofe Nwabueze as the new DPO, a move believed to be linked to efforts to address rising insecurity in the area.