CSO Gives Gov Okpebholo, Police 7-Day Ultimatum to Release 52 AAU Students Remanded Over Protest

The Edo State Government and the State Commissioner of Police have been given a seven-day deadline by a group operating under the auspices of Edo Civil Society Organizations, or EDOCSO, to free the 52 anti-kidnapping demonstrators who were placed under remand from the Correctional Center.

In a statement to reporters in Benin City on Tuesday, Leftist Godspower Okumbor, the organization’s secretary general, made the request.

Additionally, EDOCSO ordered the government and security services to move quickly to apprehend terrorists, kidnappers, murderers, and anyone embezzling money from the state by collecting ransoms.

“We are urging the Nigeria Police and the Edo state government to immediately free the 52 Edo students detained in the Ubiaja correctional facility, while the police must pursue and prosecute the kidnappers who are terrorizing Ekpoma.”

“The government’s security incompetence should not cause suffering or dehumanization for the residents of Ekpoma and other regions of the state who were promised the safety of their lives and property during the most recent election campaign.

Instead of using these “kindergarten” policing systems that use the commissioner of police to harass innocent but active citizens of Edo that he promised to protect, Mr. Governor should focus his efforts on allocating more funds to the state security architecture for the protection of citizens’ lives and property.

“The respect and protection of citizens’ lives and property should be the Edo government’s primary concern, rather than just infrastructure development,” he stated.

Okumbor voiced his disapproval of the widespread detention and arraignment of fifty-two Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, students for their protests against ongoing kidnapping activities within the campus community.

Okumbor stated that protest should not be criminalized by the government or law enforcement, despite the fact that it is a guaranteed and constitutional form of self-expression.

He pointed out that protest is a component of democracy and a way for people to voice their disapproval of any circumstance in an effort to draw the attention of the appropriate government or its agencies.

“Protests must be conducted without causing damage to public property or engaging in other illegal activities. It is well acknowledged that casualties in combat are unavoidable.

“A process of de-escalation and addressing the remote cause of action can mitigate these outcomes,” he continued.

According to the EDOCSO scribe, the demonstration and all that followed were caused by the government’s negligence and inaction to protect citizens’ lives and property while kidnappers were in control of Ekpoma town.

Nonetheless, he tasked all levels of government with being responsive and upholding their mandate.

The Edo State Police Command was criticized by the organization for not apprehending a single kidnapper even after the demonstration. Instead, they quickly allocated personnel and resources to pursue students who were accused of stealing and causing malicious damage during the demonstration, and subsequently charged 52 of them in court.

The CSOs, who said that Edo residents should receive responsive policing, claimed that the state’s police have developed a habit of making large-scale arrests that never lead to suspects being found guilty.

“A similar pattern was seen throughout the state government’s battle against cultism, so this is a diversion at its best. The security architecture of Edo State needs to be updated, he continued.