On Saturday, residents of Ekpoma and neighbouring communities took to the streets to protest a spate of kidnappings in the area. The demonstration, which included AAU students, turned violent, with military personnel reportedly shooting and injuring a protester identified as Osagie Abraham.
Following the protest, a high court in Edo remanded 52 protesters arrested by police.
Patrick Egbojele, chief press secretary to the governor, said on Tuesday that Okpebholo had directed the students’ release after meeting with the leadership of the university’s students’ union government.
The governor said intelligence indicated that the violence was caused by non-students who loiter around the university 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,” Okpebholo said. “These are people who are no longer students but are just hanging around the school, causing trouble and extorting students.”
He added 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,” the governor 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.”
Okpebholo stressed that the state government has nothing against AAU students and that no arrests were made within the university campus.
Benjamin Hundeyin, police spokesperson, said Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun had directed 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 investigation would be arraigned.
“The inspector-general of police has instructed the commissioner of police to identify those who are genuinely students,” he said on Tuesday night.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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, Ekpoma, who were arrested during a recent protest in the state.</p>
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