The Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has condemned the arrest and alleged detention of 52 students from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, demanding their immediate release.
In a solidarity statement issued on Tuesday, the lawmaker described the action as a dangerous suppression of youth voices and democratic expression, warning that protests and civic engagement must never be criminalized in a democracy. She emphasized, “Dialogue, not detention, is the pathway to peace and progress. Our youths must not be criminalized for speaking up and protesting about issues that affect their environment, welfare, and future. We demand their immediate release from detention.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan criticized the handling of the situation by authorities in Edo State, urging the government to focus on the escalating insecurity confronting residents, including kidnappings and related crimes. She stated, “The government of Edo State must focus on addressing the concerns of kidnappings and other forms of insecurity, rather than suppressing discerning and courageous voices.”
The senator underscored that peaceful protest is a constitutional right and an essential tool for accountability, particularly for young people whose futures are directly impacted by governance failures. According to her, “Silencing students through arrests only deepens mistrust and widens the gap between government and the governed. Engagement and honest dialogue are the responsible responses.”
She reaffirmed her solidarity with the detained students and their families, noting that her intervention aligns with her broader commitment to justice and youth empowerment.
PUNCH Online had earlier reported that no fewer than 52 students of the institution were remanded in a correctional facility following a coordinated midnight operation by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Ekpoma. The students were arrested late at night and later charged to court for allegedly participating in a protest held the previous Saturday against the worsening security situation in the state.
Reacting to the development, the National Association of Nigerian Students condemned the continued detention of the 52 students. In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its National Public Relations Officer, Adeyemi Ajasa, NANS described the detention as “ridiculous, unacceptable, and deeply disturbing,” insisting that students exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest should not be subjected to intimidation, harassment, or psychological trauma.
The Edo Police Command had stated that the protest was hijacked by hoodlums who attacked traders, burned tires, and vandalized the palace of the Onojie of Ekpoma, Zaiki Anthony Abumere II.
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