Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the arrest and detention of students at Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, describing it as a sign of rising intolerance under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement shared on his official X page on Tuesday, Atiku criticized what he called the “high-handedness” of the Federal Government in responding to students’ protests over insecurity in the Ekpoma area of Edo State.
He emphasized that it is unacceptable for authorities to punish peaceful protesters, noting that the right to protest is guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and upheld by the courts.
Atiku reminded the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government that the primary responsibility of the state is the security and welfare of its citizens. He stressed that students should not face arrest for raising legitimate concerns about their safety.
The former Vice President further argued that the energy spent on arresting protesters would be better directed at combating terrorism and banditry, rather than negotiating with criminals.
He called for the immediate and unconditional release of all students he described as unjustly detained for exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest.
