Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has strongly condemned the arrest and remand of 52 students in Ekpoma, describing the action as “utterly unacceptable” and a dangerous attack on citizens’ right to demand security.
In a statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle late Tuesday night, Obi said he was alarmed that students who protested against the rising menace of kidnappers and bandits in their community were treated like criminals instead of being protected.
“I have just been made aware of the alarming arrest and remand of 52 students in Ekpoma, Edo State, who bravely called for an end to the terror of kidnappers and bandits plaguing their community. This situation is utterly unacceptable. We cannot and must not punish citizens for voicing legitimate grievances,” Obi said.
He lamented that the students were reportedly picked up from their hostels at night after staging a protest, while the criminals responsible for insecurity remain free.
“It is beyond belief that students were taken from their hostels at night simply for protesting, only to be treated as criminals. Meanwhile, the actual perpetrators—the bandits and kidnappers wreaking havoc—remain at large, unaccountable for their actions.”
Call for Dialogue and Action
Obi warned that protests would continue as long as insecurity persists, urging the government to treat the situation as a call for urgent action rather than confrontation.
He stressed that authorities must engage the students in dialogue and take decisive steps to reclaim communities from violent criminals.
“The reality is clear: as long as insecurity continues unabated, more protests will follow. The government has a responsibility to engage in dialogue with these students and take decisive steps to reclaim their communities from the grip of violence.”
Obi described the arrest as intolerable and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the students.
“Arresting young people for demanding safety is absolutely intolerable. I call on the government to release these students immediately and unconditionally. Let us move forward with courage, not fear, in guiding our leadership.”
Reacting to the outrage, the government claims it has released a significant number of the detainees.
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