Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has approved the release of persons arrested in connection with the protests in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of the state. The first set of seven suspects has been released, with the Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu, saying only verified students of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, will be freed.
Speaking after meeting with the President of the Students’ Union Government of the university, the governor said the unrest was not organised by students. He described the incident as a criminal act carried out by non-students loitering around the institution, accusing them of using the situation to foment trouble, loot property and extort law-abiding students.
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Governor Okpebholo also dismissed claims of kidnapping linked to the protests, describing them as false and stage-managed to mislead the public and stir ethnic tension. He condemned the burning of markets and destruction of property in Ekpoma, warning that anyone found sponsoring or using hoodlums to destabilise communities in Edo State would be identified and prosecuted, regardless of political affiliation.
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