AAU students release confirmed as Governor Okpebholo orders dialogue after Ekpoma protest arrests

Students of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, arrested during a protest against insecurity, have been released from detention following the intervention of Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo.

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The release was confirmed on Thursday in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Patrick Ebojele, who said the students were freed alongside other detainees earlier remanded at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre.

The students were among 52 persons remanded by a Benin High Court over allegations bordering on malicious damage and armed robbery, arising from a protest that turned violent in Ekpoma last Saturday.

The demonstration, initially described as peaceful, was reportedly hijacked by hoodlums who attacked traders, set tyres ablaze, looted shops and blocked major roads. Videos of the violence circulated widely on social media.

Governor Okpebholo met with the released students and other affected persons during a stakeholders’ engagement at the Government House Banquet Hall, Benin, where he reaffirmed his administration’s preference for dialogue, reforms and institutional rebuilding.

The governor said the violence caused him deep pain, particularly as his administration had prioritised the revival of Ambrose Alli University.

“I was highly in pain when I saw what was happening in my place. The day I was sworn in, I said I was going to revive Ambrose Alli University,” Okpebholo said.

He disclosed that the university previously operated on a monthly subvention of ₦41 million, which he described as grossly inadequate, while a single consultant allegedly received ₦59 million under the last administration.

Okpebholo said his government increased the institution’s monthly subvention to ₦500 million as part of efforts to reposition the university.

“Since then, it has been about how to revive the school, how to move the school forward and how to reposition it again,” he added.

The governor further revealed that outstanding salary and wage arrears owed to AAU staff stood at about ₦41 billion, assuring that plans were in place to gradually clear the backlog.

Warning against criminal infiltration of student protests, Okpebholo urged students to avoid being used by miscreants and to pursue peaceful engagement.

“Don’t allow yourself to be used. Read your books so that you can be like us,” he said.

Acknowledging the wider security challenges facing Ekpoma and other parts of the country, the governor described insecurity as a collective problem but noted that investigations showed many criminal activities in the area were perpetrated by locals.

He condemned the destruction of property and looting during the protest, calling such actions counterproductive, and assured residents that criminals would not find safe haven in Edo State.

The Commissioner for Education, Dr Paddy Iyamu, commended the governor for facilitating the release of the students and opting for dialogue over force.

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The meeting was attended by Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa, Chief of Staff Gani Audu, the Minister of Youth, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Youth Engagement, and other top government officials.