The Edo State Government has announced that 38 students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, arrested during unrest in the community last weekend, will be released.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking on The Morning Brief programme on Channels Television. He said some of the students were released on Tuesday, while others would regain their freedom later on Wednesday.
“We didn’t sleep till 1 a.m. this morning trying to release the students, some of them yesterday. Altogether, we are releasing about 38 students,” Iyamu said.
The commissioner explained that the violence was not a student-led protest but was allegedly orchestrated by individuals from outside Edo State who hijacked the situation and caused widespread destruction.
According to him, properties were vandalised and items were stolen from the palace of the traditional ruler in the area.
Iyamu recalled that a previous protest by students on May 13, 2025, over cultism was peaceful and orderly, noting that Governor Monday Okpebholo personally received the protesters at the Government House.
“They did a peaceful procession straight to Government House, and the governor received them himself. Everything went smoothly,” he said.
He stressed that while the government welcomes lawful protests, taking laws into one’s hands, stealing, and invading the palace of a monarch was unacceptable.
Following the restoration of calm, the commissioner announced that the state government has approved the resumption of academic activities at Ambrose Alli University.
“We have released the communiqué this morning. Students are to return to school on Monday. Normalcy has been restored, and security agencies are doing a lot to sustain peace,” Iyamu added.
The arrests followed a protest on Saturday that was initially aimed at drawing attention to insecurity in Ekpoma. The situation later turned violent after suspected hoodlums hijacked the demonstration, attacked traders, and blocked roads by setting tyres ablaze.
Several activists and politicians, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, had condemned the arrests, describing them as an attempt to suppress democratic expression.
However, the Edo State Government dismissed claims that the incident was a student protest, insisting it was a “coordinated riot aimed at destabilising the state.” The government also denied reports that arrests were made within student hostels or that all detainees were AAU students.
On Tuesday, the state began efforts to secure the release of bona fide AAU students remanded at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre over their alleged involvement in the protest against frequent kidnappings in the community.
