Widespread condemnation has erupted following the arrest and subsequent remand of 52 students from Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, in connection with a protest against rampant kidnapping and insecurity in the university community. The students were arraigned in court on Monday, January 13, 2026, and ordered to be held in custody for 14 days, a move described by critics as a severe attack on democratic rights.
Midnight Raids and Arrests Spark Panic
The incident began with late-night raids on student hostels in Ekpoma. According to accounts from the students, police officers carried out the operations allegedly on the orders of Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo. The arrests were linked to a protest held the previous Saturday, where students voiced their anger over the worsening security situation and rising kidnap cases in the state.
Students who spoke to the media painted a distressing picture of the arrests. They described it as a coordinated midnight raid that caused widespread panic. Many claimed that those detained were not even participants in the street protest but were picked up while sleeping in their rooms. "They came to our hostels at night and started arresting students," one student recounted. "Many of those arrested were sleeping in their rooms and were not even on the streets when the protest took place."
Legal Proceedings and Widespread Condemnation
On Monday, the 52 students were brought before a court where the police, through their counsel P. O. Odion, applied for and secured a remand order. Presiding judge William Aziegbemi stated he lacked jurisdiction to hear the bail application, directing defence lawyers to file at the Ubiaja High Court. The case was adjourned to February 26, 2026, and the students were remanded at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre.
The charges, which include malicious damage and armed robbery, were immediately criticized as baseless. The civil rights group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), led by its National Coordinator Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, issued a strong statement condemning the arrests. HURIWA stressed that detaining students without credible evidence was unconstitutional and a violation of the right to peaceful assembly. The group called for the students' immediate release and appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene.
A Symptom of Clampdown on Dissent
Legal practitioner Joseph Opute and activist Precious Oruche added their voices to the growing criticism. Opute framed the arrests as a symptom of a growing intolerance for dissent. "The government does not understand democracy," he stated. "The characteristics of a democracy include a vibrant press and the right to dissent." He argued that the Police Act mandates the protection of notified protesters, a provision ignored in this instance.
Activist Precious Oruche condemned the focus on protesting students instead of kidnappers terrorizing the state, calling it a sign of systemic decay. She also criticized the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), alleging it had been compromised. However, the National Public Relations Officer of NANS, Samson Adeyemi, separately condemned the arrests, describing the development as "ridiculous, unacceptable and deeply disturbing." He emphasized that students deserve protection, not suppression, for exercising their constitutional rights.
The situation remains tense as the students' lawyers prepare bail applications, while the public outcry continues to mount against what is seen as an unjust criminalization of peaceful protest.
