The Edo State Government has made a startling claim, alleging that the recent unrest in Ekpoma was not a spontaneous protest but a meticulously planned riot funded by Nigerians living abroad, including in Russia. This accusation was detailed in an official statement released on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, by Patrick Ebojele, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo.
Government Alleges Coordinated Destabilization Plot
In the statement, Ebojele dismissed widespread social media reports on the Ekpoma incident as false and part of a deliberate campaign to mislead the public and destabilize the state. He asserted that security agencies have identified the alleged masterminds overseas, who reportedly contacted individuals in Edo State to organize coordinated riots across Ekpoma, Auchi, Irrua, and even the Government House in Benin City.
The government specifically addressed the involvement of Ambrose Alli University (AAU) students, stating that those arrested and facing prosecution were indeed students of the institution. Officials emphasized that the arrests were evidence-based, noting that AAU was officially closed and hostels were vacant at the time. According to the statement, some detainees were intercepted while allegedly heading to vandalize campus property, while others were identified from viral videos showing acts of arson.
NANS, SERAP, and Atiku Demand Student Release
The government's position has sparked widespread condemnation from civil society and political figures. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has strongly denounced the continued detention of 52 AAU students. NANS spokesperson, Adeyemi Samson Ajasa, labeled the detention as "ridiculous, unacceptable, and deeply disturbing," arguing that peaceful protest is a constitutional right.
Ajasa warned that NANS would mobilize and take all lawful steps necessary if the students were not released immediately and unconditionally. He stressed that the safety and mental well-being of the detained students must be guaranteed.
Similarly, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has appealed to Governor Monday Okpebholo to secure the students' release. Adding his voice, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticized the federal government's response, describing the detention as a sign of intolerance. Atiku, in a post on his X account, stated that the students have a right to protest against rising insecurity.
Partial Release and Police Shake-Up
In a subsequent development, the Edo State Government, through the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, indicated that bona fide AAU students who were remanded would be released after due process. Iyamu, who facilitated the process in Ubiaja, Esan South-East Local Council Area, claimed the protest was orchestrated by a group called the 'Comrade Association,' which he described as comprising former students who seize opportunities to cause mayhem.
Concurrently, the State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, has ordered the redeployment of the Ekpoma Divisional Police Officer (DPO). CSP Tomofe Nwabueze has been approved as the new DPO and is expected to assume duty immediately. The police command's spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, confirmed this restructuring, which sources suggest is linked to the rising insecurity in the Esan West Local Council Area.
