Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has directed the immediate release of innocent students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, who were arrested and remanded alongside suspected hoodlums following violent unrest over the weekend in Ekpoma, Esan South-West Local Government Area.
The directive came barely 48 hours after a Benin City court ordered the remand of 52 suspects at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre for their involvement in property destruction during the disturbance. The arrests had sparked widespread condemnation, with calls for the students’ release from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, and other public figures.
Governor Okpebholo gave the order on Tuesday during a meeting with the President of the AAU Students’ Union Government (SUG) to address the unrest, the arrests, and security concerns in Ekpoma.
He explained that intelligence reports indicated the violence was not a genuine student protest, but orchestrated by a group calling itself the “Ambrose Alli Comrade Community,” largely made up of former students who loiter around the university and engage in 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,” Okpebholo said. “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 assured the SUG that any genuine students mistakenly caught up in the arrests would be identified and released immediately.
“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, adding that the incident was a planned attempt to loot and cause disorder rather than a legitimate protest.
Okpebholo also dismissed claims linking the violence to kidnappings in Ekpoma, describing them as false and deliberately staged to mislead the public and incite 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,” the governor said.
He condemned the burning of markets and other acts of destruction, warning that anyone found sponsoring or using hoodlums to destabilise communities, regardless of political affiliation, would be prosecuted.
“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 said.
Okpebholo emphasised that the state government had no issues with AAU students and noted that no arrests were made on campus, as the university was not in session.
Supporting this, SUG President Comrade Osadebamen Ehizogie Michael said it was unfortunate that attempts were being made to associate the unrest with students.
“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,” he said, adding that Governor Okpebholo had assured the union that any students among those arrested would be released.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Prof. Andrew Eromonsele confirmed no arrests were made on campus, further distancing the university from the unrest. The meeting was attended by the Commissioner for Education, Dr Paddy Iyamu.
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