Okpebholo Meets AAU Management, SUG, Orders Release of Arrested Students After Ekpoma Protests

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has moved to douse tensions following the recent violent protests in Ekpoma, the host community of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), by ordering the immediate identification and release of genuine students arrested during security operations. The governor’s intervention came after a high-level meeting with the university’s management and student leadership aimed at reviewing the security situation and addressing concerns raised by parents, students, and the wider public.

In a statement personally issued via his verified social media handle, Governor Okpebholo disclosed that he met with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of Ambrose Alli University, Professor Andrew Eromonsele, alongside the President of the Student Union Government (SUG), Comrade Osadebamen Ehizogie Michael. According to the governor, the meeting focused on assessing the circumstances surrounding the protests, the subsequent security response, and the arrests made in the course of restoring order in Ekpoma.

Governor Okpebholo reassured the AAU community that his administration harbours no hostility toward students, stressing that their welfare remains a priority. He maintained that his government has invested more in the Ambrose Alli University community than any previous administration in the history of Edo State, pointing to infrastructural improvements and security interventions as evidence of this commitment.

Addressing the controversial arrests, the governor stated that he had given a clear directive for the prompt release of any bona fide student detained during the security crackdown. He emphasized that while law enforcement agencies were mandated to restore calm, innocent students should not suffer for crimes they did not commit. The identification process, he assured, would be thorough to ensure that only genuine students are freed, while criminal elements face the full weight of the law.

The protests in Ekpoma were reportedly triggered by growing insecurity in the area, including incidents of kidnapping and violent crime, which led to widespread anger and demonstrations. However, the situation escalated into the destruction of markets and private property, actions which Governor Okpebholo strongly condemned. He described the vandalism as unacceptable and warned that anyone found sponsoring, coordinating, or using hoodlums to destabilize communities in Edo State would be prosecuted, regardless of their social or political status.

The governor further revealed that security agencies are currently carrying out technology-driven operations to flush out criminal gangs operating in and around Ekpoma. According to him, these operations have already yielded results, with the arrest of suspected kidnappers and the recovery of firearms. He reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to dismantle criminal networks across the state and ensure that Edo communities are safe from violence and lawlessness.

While the governor’s directive has been welcomed by some as a step toward de-escalation, it has also sparked mixed reactions among residents and observers. Critics argue that the arrest of students in the first place reflected a heavy-handed approach to protest management, questioning why security forces appeared quicker to raid hostels than to neutralize criminal hideouts. Others insist that students also have a responsibility to conduct protests peacefully and avoid actions that could provide cover for criminal elements.

Despite the controversy, Governor Okpebholo insisted that restoring peace in Ekpoma remains a top priority of his administration. He reiterated that Edo State would not be held hostage by criminals or those seeking to exploit genuine grievances for violent ends.

As calm gradually returns to Ekpoma, stakeholders are watching closely to see how the state government balances security enforcement with the protection of students’ rights. The outcome of this intervention may well shape public confidence in the Okpebholo administration’s handling of security and civil unrest going forward.