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Inside Edo
'Arrest, remand of 52 AAU students over anti-Kidnapping protest show of shame, incompetence' – EDOCSO
Written By: Emmanuel Ikhenebome
13 Jan 2026 11:39 AM
Ekpoma, Edo – Tensions continue to rise in Ekpoma, a university town in Edo State's Esan West Local Government Area, following the arrest and court-ordered remand of 52 individuals, predominantly students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, in connection with a recent protest against escalating kidnapping and insecurity.
The protest, which took place over the weekend was triggered by a surge in kidnappings in the area, including abductions from homes and the killing of a young man.
Demonstrators expressed frustration over the perceived failure of security agencies to curb the menace, with some reports indicating the protest escalated into violence, including looting of shops and vandalism of the palace of the Onojie of Ekpoma.
In response, DAILY South Nigeria gathered that the Edo State Police Command conducted late-night raids on student hostels across Ekpoma, arresting the suspects many reportedly while they were asleep in what has been described as a coordinated midnight operation.
On Monday, January 12, the suspects were arraigned before a court in Benin City on charges including malicious damage and armed robbery. The court remanded them to the Ubiaja Correctional Facility for an initial period, pending further legal advice, with some reports specifying 14 days and an adjournment to late February.
The Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO), a coalition of civil rights groups in the state, has strongly condemned the mass arrests in a press release signed by Secretary General Leftist Godspower Okumbor.
The group described the protest as a constitutional right to self-expression and a key element of democracy, arguing that it should not be criminalized.
EDOCSO placed the blame for the unrest squarely on government inaction in addressing the root cause, rampant kidnappings and criticized the police for prioritizing the arrest of protesters over apprehending kidnappers.
"It is a show of shame and incompetence... while no single kidnapper has been arrested after days of protest," the statement read, highlighting a perceived pattern of mass arrests by the Edo State Police that rarely lead to convictions.
EDOCSO demanded the immediate release of the 52 detained individuals within seven days, along with urgent action to arrest and prosecute the kidnappers terrorizing Ekpoma.
The group called for an overhaul of the state's security architecture and urged Governor Monday Okpebholo to invest more resources in protecting lives and property rather than what it termed "kindergarten policing" and harassment of active citizens.
The incident has drawn widespread criticism from various quarters, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), and other figures who have echoed calls for the students' unconditional release.
Many protesters and detainees maintain that they were not directly involved in any violence and were arbitrarily targeted.
The situation underscores growing concerns over insecurity in Ekpoma, home to a large student population, where repeated kidnappings have disrupted daily life and even prompted the temporary closure of AAU and suspension of academic activities.
As of January 13, 2026, no official response from the Edo State Government or the Police Command, though police have previously described the arrests as targeting those involved in the violent aspects of the protest.
The case has heightened anxiety in the community and raised broader questions about balancing the right to protest with public order in the face of persistent security challenges.
The protest, which took place over the weekend was triggered by a surge in kidnappings in the area, including abductions from homes and the killing of a young man.
Demonstrators expressed frustration over the perceived failure of security agencies to curb the menace, with some reports indicating the protest escalated into violence, including looting of shops and vandalism of the palace of the Onojie of Ekpoma.
In response, DAILY South Nigeria gathered that the Edo State Police Command conducted late-night raids on student hostels across Ekpoma, arresting the suspects many reportedly while they were asleep in what has been described as a coordinated midnight operation.
On Monday, January 12, the suspects were arraigned before a court in Benin City on charges including malicious damage and armed robbery. The court remanded them to the Ubiaja Correctional Facility for an initial period, pending further legal advice, with some reports specifying 14 days and an adjournment to late February.
The Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO), a coalition of civil rights groups in the state, has strongly condemned the mass arrests in a press release signed by Secretary General Leftist Godspower Okumbor.
The group described the protest as a constitutional right to self-expression and a key element of democracy, arguing that it should not be criminalized.
EDOCSO placed the blame for the unrest squarely on government inaction in addressing the root cause, rampant kidnappings and criticized the police for prioritizing the arrest of protesters over apprehending kidnappers.
"It is a show of shame and incompetence... while no single kidnapper has been arrested after days of protest," the statement read, highlighting a perceived pattern of mass arrests by the Edo State Police that rarely lead to convictions.
EDOCSO demanded the immediate release of the 52 detained individuals within seven days, along with urgent action to arrest and prosecute the kidnappers terrorizing Ekpoma.
The group called for an overhaul of the state's security architecture and urged Governor Monday Okpebholo to invest more resources in protecting lives and property rather than what it termed "kindergarten policing" and harassment of active citizens.
The incident has drawn widespread criticism from various quarters, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), and other figures who have echoed calls for the students' unconditional release.
Many protesters and detainees maintain that they were not directly involved in any violence and were arbitrarily targeted.
The situation underscores growing concerns over insecurity in Ekpoma, home to a large student population, where repeated kidnappings have disrupted daily life and even prompted the temporary closure of AAU and suspension of academic activities.
As of January 13, 2026, no official response from the Edo State Government or the Police Command, though police have previously described the arrests as targeting those involved in the violent aspects of the protest.
The case has heightened anxiety in the community and raised broader questions about balancing the right to protest with public order in the face of persistent security challenges.
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