The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has strongly condemned the continued detention and court remand of 52 students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, following their arrest in the wake of a protest against rising kidnapping and insecurity in Edo State.
What Sparked the Protest?
On Saturday, January 10, 2026, students and residents of Ekpoma took to the streets in a demonstration demanding urgent action against a surge in kidnapping, armed attacks, and worsening insecurity impacting the university community and neighbouring areas. Protesters carried placards and called on authorities to protect lives and property.
Arrests and Midnight Raids
According to accounts from several detainees, police operatives conducted coordinated raids in the early hours following the protest, arresting students from their hostels across Ekpoma, often while they were asleep and transporting them to Benin City.
Security operatives later arraigned the 52 suspects, many of whom are students, before a Benin High Court on charges including malicious damage and armed robbery, allegations that defence lawyers and student bodies have described as unfounded and manufactured.
Court Ruling and Remand
Presiding Judge William Aziegbemi ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case and ordered that the students be remanded at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre. The matter was adjourned to February 26, 2026, and defence counsel were instructed to file bail applications at the Ubiaja High Court.
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Scenes outside the courtroom were emotional, with relatives of the students in tears, asserting that many detainees had no involvement in the protest or in any criminal acts.
NANS Reaction
In an official statement signed by its National Public Relations Officer, Comrade Samson Adeyemi (also reported as Adeyemi Ajasa), NANS described the detention as “ridiculous, unacceptable, and deeply disturbing.” The students’ body emphasised that peaceful protest is a constitutional right and that demanding safety and security should not be met with repression.
NANS further stated that the continued incarceration of the students undermines confidence in the justice system and warned that failure to secure their release might lead to nationwide mobilisation in defence of students’ rights and safety.
Calls for Action
Beyond NANS, political groups like the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have also criticised the handling of the protests and demanded the release of the detained students, accusing the state government of failing to address insecurity and instead resorting to repression.
Civil society organisations have voiced similar concerns, calling the court remand a potential violation of fundamental rights and urging authorities to prioritise genuine security solutions over punitive measures against peaceful demonstrators.
