The Edo State Government has said 38 students of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, arrested during last weekend’s protest in the town will be released.
The Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu, disclosed this on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
Iyamu said some of the students were released on Tuesday, while the remaining ones would regain freedom on Wednesday.
“We didn’t sleep till 1 a.m. this morning, trying to release the students, some of them yesterday.
“Altogether, we are releasing about 38 students,” he said.
The commissioner explained that the violence that followed the protest was masterminded by people living outside Edo State, who allegedly infiltrated the area and caused destruction.
He recalled that a similar protest earlier in the year was peaceful and properly handled by the state government.
“On May 13, if I’m not mistaken, they had a peaceful protest in Edo State. People protested because of the cultism.
“They did the procession straight to Government House, and the governor received them himself. Everything went on smooth.
“So one expects that if people are going to make their pains known, you need to do it in a very orderly manner. But taking laws into their hands, going to steal, going into the palace of the king to do a lot is totally out of it,” Iyamu stated.
Iyamu added that academic activities have been approved to resume following the return of calm to Ekpoma.
“We have released the communiqué this morning. Students are to return to school on Monday.
“The schools resume on Monday because normalcy has been restored. The governor is even still in the general area, trying to make sure that the peace is sustained, and so far, normalcy has been restored. Security agencies are doing a lot,” he said.
Angry youths had on Saturday protested against rising cases of kidnapping and insecurity in Ekpoma, located in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.
Videos from the protest showed residents in Edo Central demonstrating, while some people suspected to be cattle breeders were seen fleeing a market on sighting the protesters.
The police later said the protest was hijacked, leading to looting, vandalism of shops and destruction of property, with over 50 persons reportedly arrested.
On Monday, the Edo State High Court, Criminal Court 2, ordered the remand of some youths linked to the protest at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre.
However, Governor Monday Okpebholo on Tuesday approved the release of those arrested.
During a meeting with the President of the Students’ Union Government of Ambrose Alli University, Okpebholo said the unrest was not organised by students of the institution.
“I have met with the SUG President of AAU Ekpoma. We had a very lengthy discussion, and as I have consistently said, this was not a students’ protest.
“These are people who are no longer students but are just hanging around the school, causing trouble and extorting students. We will put an end to that,” the governor said.
