Some students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, were on Monday among 52 persons arraigned by the Edo State Police Command in connection with the violent protest that rocked Ekpoma, headquarters of Esan West Local Government Area.
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The protest, which began as a demonstration against the spate of kidnappings and killings in the area, degenerated into violence, leading to widespread looting of shops and the vandalisation of the palace of the Onojie of Ekpoma.
Residents had taken to the streets following repeated abductions of community members, many of whom were reportedly kidnapped from their homes.
However, security operatives later moved in, arresting suspects at different locations across Ekpoma.
Several of the arrested AAU students claimed they were picked up from their hostels at about 3 a.m. while asleep.
They were allegedly conveyed in a police “Black Maria” to Benin City, where they were held pending arraignment.
At the court premises, emotions ran high as anxious relatives loitered around, seeking information about their loved ones.
A parent, Abdulsalam, whose two sons were among those arraigned, insisted that his children did not participate in the protest.
Tears flowed freely as the suspects were led back into the waiting police van after court proceedings.
The suspects were arraigned through an ex parte motion filed by police counsel, P. O. Odion.
However, the presiding judge, Justice William Aziegbemi, ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter and advised defence counsel to file bail applications at the Ubiaja High Court.
Justice Aziegbemi consequently ordered that the suspects be remanded at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre and adjourned the case to February 26, 2026, for hearing.
Reacting, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Eno Ikoedem, said the suspects were arrested for their alleged involvement in a violent protest that resulted in destruction of property.
But lawyers representing some of the defendants faulted the charges, describing them as “bogus.”
Barrister Wisdom Isaac alleged that offences such as malicious damage and armed robbery were wrongly preferred against the suspects, adding that no formal complaints were made against many of them.
Another counsel, Ejemi Etinbowei, maintained that the students neither organised nor led the protest, insisting that it was initiated by family members of a kidnap victim who was later found dead.
The case has continued to generate public debate amid growing concerns over insecurity and the handling of protests in Edo.
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