Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has approved the release of seven persons arrested in connection with the recent protests in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of the state.
The release followed the governor’s directive that only verified students arrested during the unrest should be freed.
The Edo State Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu, who was present to oversee the process, confirmed that the order was strictly limited to genuine students of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.
Governor Okpebholo, during a meeting with the President of the Students’ Union Government of the institution on Tuesday, maintained that the disturbance was not organised by students of the university.
According to him, the violence was carried out by non-students who loiter around the campus to foment trouble and extort law-abiding students.
He described the incident as a criminal operation rather than a legitimate protest, insisting that the state government would not tolerate such activities.
The governor assured the SUG leadership that any student mistakenly arrested while security agencies were restoring order would be promptly identified and released.
He said that the violence, which led to the burning of markets and destruction of property, was a deliberate attempt to loot and destabilise the community, adding that such actions would no longer be tolerated.
Governor Okpebholo also dismissed claims that kidnappings occurred during the incident, describing the reports as false and deliberately staged to mislead the public and fuel ethnic tension.
According to him, the alleged kidnappings were orchestrated by the perpetrators themselves, describing the situation as deeply troubling, especially with reports that a life was lost during the violence.
The governor further warned that anyone found sponsoring or using hoodlums to destabilise communities in Edo State would be prosecuted, regardless of political affiliation.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property, stressing that all those responsible for the unrest would be brought to justice.
