Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has condemned the arrest and remand of 52 students in Ekpoma, Edo State, saying the action is “utterly unacceptable” and a grave violation of citizens’ right to demand security.
In a statement posted late Tuesday night on his X (previously Twitter) account, Obi expressed concern that kids protesting the increased threat of kidnapping and banditry in their town were treated as criminals rather than being safeguarded.
He wrote, “I have just been made aware of the alarming arrest and remand of 52 students in Ekpoma, Edo State, who bravely called for an end to the terror of kidnappers and bandits plaguing their community.
“This situation is utterly unacceptable. We cannot and must not punish citizens for voicing legitimate grievances, especially when they are standing up against the very real threats that have devastated our neighborhoods.”
He noted that the students were reportedly pulled up from their hostels at night after mounting a protest, but the criminals responsible for the insecurity are still free.
“It is beyond belief that students were taken from their hostels at night simply for protesting, only to be treated as criminals. Meanwhile, the actual perpetrators—the bandits and kidnappers wreaking havoc—remain at large, unaccountable for their actions.”
The former Anambra State governor cautioned that protests would continue as long as insecurity existed, emphasizing that the government should view the crisis as a need for quick action rather than conflict.
According to him, the authorities must engage students in discourse and take immediate action to rid neighborhoods of violent criminals.
“The reality is clear: as long as insecurity continues unabated, more protests will follow. The government has a responsibility to engage in dialogue with these students and take decisive steps to reclaim their communities from the grip of violence. This is not a confrontation between citizens and the government; it is a united front against the criminals who terrorize us.”
He denounced the students’ incarceration as deplorable and demanded their immediate and unconditional release.
“Arresting young people for demanding safety is absolutely intolerable. I call on the government to release these students immediately and unconditionally. Let us move forward with courage, not fear, in guiding our leadership.”
