Peter Obi condemns arrest of 52 Ekpoma students, demands immediate release
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the arrest and remand of 52 students in Ekpoma, Edo State, describing the action as “utterly unacceptable” and a dangerous assault on citizens’ right to demand security.
In a statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle late on Tuesday, Obi said he was alarmed that students who protested against the growing menace of kidnappers and bandits in their community were treated as criminals rather than protected.
“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,” he wrote.
“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 neighbourhoods.”
Obi lamented reports that the students were arrested from their hostels at night following the protest, while those responsible for the insecurity remain at large.
“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,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor warned that protests would persist as long as insecurity remains unchecked, stressing that the situation should be seen as a call for urgent government action rather than confrontation.
According to him, authorities must engage the students through dialogue and take decisive steps to reclaim communities from 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 terrorise us,” Obi said.
He described the arrest and remand of the students as intolerable and called for 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,” he added.
