Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the arrest and detention of 52 Ambrose Alli University students following protests against insecurity in Ekpoma, Edo State.
Atiku described the arrests as unconstitutional and a sign of intolerance, insisting that peaceful protest is a protected civic right. He urged authorities to focus on tackling insecurity rather than suppressing dissent.
The students were later remanded over charges linked to violence that erupted after hoodlums hijacked the protest. Edo State government, however, denied that those arrested were students, describing the incident as a coordinated riot.
Rights groups and student bodies have also demanded the students’ immediate release.
