Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
A Benin High Court sitting as Criminal Court 2 has ordered the remand of 52 youths, including students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre following their arrest in connection with a protest against rising insecurity and kidnapping in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State. The ruling was delivered on Monday, 12 January 2026, after police brought the matter before the court through an ex parte motion.
The protest, which began on Saturday, 10 January, saw residents and students take to the streets to express anger over a surge in kidnapping and killings in the area. While the demonstration started as a call for government intervention against insecurity, authorities say it was later hijacked by hoodlums, resulting in malicious damage, vandalism and looting of properties — including allegations of attacks on shops and the palace of the Onojie of Ekpoma, Zaiki Anthony Abumere II. The police described the escalation as beyond peaceful protest and intervened to restore order.
In court, Justice William Aziegbemi ruled that the Benin High Court lacked jurisdiction to handle the case and directed defence lawyers to file bail applications before the Ubiaja High Court. He subsequently remanded the 52 suspects at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter to 26 February 2026 for further hearing.
Relatives and supporters of those remanded were visibly emotional at the court premises as the suspects were escorted into custody. Parents maintained that some of their children were wrongly apprehended, insisting they had not participated in the protest or associated violent acts. Several defence lawyers also criticised the charges of malicious damage and armed robbery, describing them as “unfounded” and asserting that many of those detained were peaceful demonstrators or were arrested from their homes early in the morning.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned the remand, labelling it “ridiculous, unacceptable and deeply disturbing.” In a public statement, the student body argued that the youths were exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest against insecurity and that detaining them on such broad accusations only aggravates tensions in Ekpoma and beyond. NANS further called for the immediate and unconditional release of the detained students, emphasising that authorities should prioritise addressing the root causes of insecurity rather than criminalising civic expression.
Security sources confirmed that the arrests were connected to the unrest that followed the protest, which reportedly included disruptions on major roads and confrontations with law enforcement. The Edo State Police Command reiterated that while citizens have the constitutional right to lawful protest, it must be peaceful and non‑destructive, saying officers were deployed to prevent further degeneration of the situation.
The episode in Ekpoma has underscored mounting frustrations over security challenges in Edo Central Senatorial District, where recurring incidents of kidnapping and violence have prompted community outcry. Local residents and community leaders continue to appeal to state authorities for more effective security measures to protect lives and property, even as debates over the legality and handling of the protest persist.
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