The Edo State Government has confirmed that 38 students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, arrested during last weekend’s unrest, will be released, Dip Connect Online News reports.
The Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, stating that some of the detained students were released on Tuesday, while the remaining individuals were expected to regain their freedom later in the day.
Iyamu alleged that the unrest was instigated by non-students, whom he said “fomented trouble, leading to the destruction of properties,” adding that some items were also stolen from the palace of the traditional ruler in the area.
Following the restoration of calm, the Edo State Government has approved the resumption of academic activities at Ambrose Alli University.
The arrests reportedly followed a protest on Saturday that was initially organised to draw attention to insecurity in Ekpoma. The demonstration later turned violent after suspected hoodlums allegedly hijacked it, attacked traders and set tyres on roads to obstruct traffic.
The arrests attracted condemnation from several activists and politicians, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central. They described the detentions as an attempt to suppress democratic expression.
However, the Edo State Government dismissed claims that the incident was a student protest, insisting that it was a “coordinated riot aimed at destabilising the state.” The government also denied that those arrested were AAU students or that any arrests were carried out within student hostels.
Elijah Adeyemi
