Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized the arrest and detention of 52 students and protesters in Edo State, describing it as an alarming sign of growing intolerance under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The arrests followed a demonstration in Ekpoma last Saturday, where residents and students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU) protested against rising insecurity in the area. The protest was later hijacked by hoodlums, leading to vandalism, attacks on traders, and an assault on the palace of the traditional ruler, the Onojie of Ekpoma.
In a post on his verified X account on Tuesday, Atiku called for the "immediate and unconditional release of all those unjustifiably detained for asserting their legitimate rights to protest."
Government's "Misplaced Priorities"
Atiku accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of focusing its efforts on suppressing dissent rather than tackling the nation's security crisis. He argued that the same energy used to arrest the protesters should instead be directed toward combating terrorism and banditry.
“The level of intolerance and high-handedness of the Bola Tinubu administration is concerning,” Atiku wrote. “It is unacceptable that the authorities’ response to students’ protest against insecurity ... is to arrest and detain dozens of students.”
He emphasized that the right to protest is both a constitutional guarantee and a right upheld by Nigerian courts. Atiku further stated, “If the energy with which innocent students and citizens are arrested for raising concerns about insecurity were deployed to fighting terrorism and banditry, instead of negotiating with criminals, our communities would be safer.”
Judicial Proceedings
On Monday, a Federal High Court in Edo ordered the remand of the 52 detainees at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre. Presiding Judge William Aziegbemi stated the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter and directed defense lawyers to file bail applications at the Ubiaja High Court. The case has been adjourned until February 26, 2026.
The protest, initially a peaceful outcry against rampant kidnapping in the region, escalated after a military personnel reportedly shot and injured a 32-year-old demonstrator. State Governor Monday Okpebholo later labeled the event a "well-organised riot" allegedly sponsored by a Nigerian based in Russia—a claim that has drawn further scrutiny to the government's handling of the incident.
Atiku’s intervention adds a significant political voice to calls for the release of the detained students and refocuses attention on what critics describe as the federal government's inconsistent approach to civil liberties and national security.
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