Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, has issued a forceful condemnation of the arrest and ongoing detention of 52 students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, describing the action as a grave threat to democratic values and the constitutional rights of Nigerian youths.
In a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja, the lawmaker strongly criticised the handling of the situation by Edo State authorities, insisting that peaceful protest and civic engagement must never be criminalised in a democratic society. She called for the immediate and unconditional release of the students, who were detained following a protest over widespread insecurity in the state.
“Dialogue, not detention, is the pathway to peace and progress,” Akpoti-Uduaghan declared in her statement. “Our youths must not be criminalised for speaking up and protesting about issues that affect their environment, welfare, and future.”
The students were among dozens of demonstrators who took to the streets of Ekpoma, the headquarters of Esan West Local Government Area, earlier in the week to protest rising cases of kidnappings, killings, and pervasive insecurity in the region. According to multiple reports, what began as a largely peaceful demonstration later escalated, with allegations that some participants engaged in vandalism and other unlawful acts.
In response, security operatives reportedly conducted midnight raids on student hostels, arresting dozens of individuals, including many who maintained they were not involved in the protest, according to civil society groups who condemned the police action as excessive and unlawful.
The 52 detainees were subsequently arraigned on charges that include malicious damage and armed robbery and were remanded in custody at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre by a High Court in Benin City pending further hearings set for February 26, 2026.
In her statement, Akpoti-Uduaghan urged the Edo State government to prioritise addressing the root causes of public frustration, particularly the deteriorating security situation, rather than focusing on suppressing voices calling for accountability and action.
“The government of Edo State must focus on addressing kidnappings and other forms of insecurity, rather than suppressing discerning and courageous voices,” she emphasised, urging authorities to engage with protesters through constructive dialogue.
The senator reaffirmed that peaceful protest is a constitutional right and a vital mechanism for citizens, especially young people, to express concerns and demand good governance, adding that penalising students for civic engagement deepens mistrust and widens the gap between government and the governed.
Akpoti-Uduaghan concluded her statement by expressing solidarity with the detained students and their families, underscoring her commitment to justice, youth empowerment, and democratic freedoms across Nigeria.
Her intervention echoes broader calls for the release of the students by student organisations and civil society groups, which have also decried the arrests as disproportionate and harmful to democratic participation.
