The presidency on Tuesday said 38 students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, who were arrested following a protest over security concerns in the Esan West LGA of Edo State, are being processed for release.
The senior special assistant to President Bola Tinubu on student engagement, Sunday Asefon, disclosed this in a statement shared on his Facebook page.
“We are pleased to report that 38 students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU) who were arrested in connection with the recent protest in Ekpoma will be released shortly,” Mr Asefon stated.
Mr Asefon attributed the development to the timely and constructive interventions of concerned stakeholders.
“This positive development is a result of the timely and constructive interventions of the executive governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo; Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa; Honourable Minister of Youth Development; the workaholic Commissioner for Education in Edo State; SUG president, Ambrose Ali; and the unwavering efforts of the comrade community.
“We appreciate the commitment of all stakeholders to dialogue, due process, and the welfare of students, and we commend their roles in ensuring a peaceful resolution of the matter,” he stated.
Also, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), in a progress report on Tuesday, restated its call for the unconditional release of all the remanded students.
Faulting the police action, the association emphasised its opposition to the arrest and arraignment of the students, describing the move as premature.
The association, in a report signed by its president, Olushola Oladoja, revealed that its intervention has led to assurances from concerned authorities that all verified students will be released.
“Preliminary reports from these engagements have established that not all of the fifty-two (52) persons remanded are students. However, NANS condemns the procedure and demands the unconditional release of all students in captivity,” Mr Oladoja stated.
“After intense engagement, we secured firm assurances from the concerned authorities that all genuine students among the 52 persons once identified with proof will be granted immediate and unconditional release.”
Earlier, Peoples Gazette reported that 52 people, including students, were remanded by a court in Edo State for taking part in protests decrying kidnappings and killings in the state.
The Edo State police, on Monday, approached the state’s high court to arrest and remand the students for 14 days.
“An order remanding the suspects in the correctional custodial centre, Benin City, for an initial period of 14 days, pending the rendering of legal advice on the case from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Ministry of Justice, Edo State,” the application stated.
