Students of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, who were arrested and remanded over the recent protest against insecurity in the town, have regained their freedom.
The release of the students was confirmed on Thursday in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, Patrick Ebojele.
The students were among 52 persons earlier remanded by a Benin High Court to the Ubiaja Correctional Centre on charges linked to malicious damage and armed robbery.
They were arrested after a protest held last Saturday to demand action against rising insecurity in Ekpoma turned violent.
Reports said hoodlums hijacked the protest, attacking traders, burning tyres and blocking major roads in the town. Videos of the incidents later went viral on social media.
After their release, the students and other affected persons met with Governor Okpebholo during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Benin.
The governor assured them that his administration preferred dialogue and reforms and was committed to the growth and development of Ambrose Alli University.
He said he was saddened by the violence that followed the protest, especially as his government was already working to revive the institution.
“I was highly in pain when I saw what was happening in my place. The day I was sworn in, I said I was going to revive Ambrose Alli University,” Okpebholo said.
He spoke on the financial challenges facing the university, saying the previous funding was not enough to run the school.
“They were paying light bills, water, printing, salaries and everything from ₦41 million, which was not enough for anything at all. But on record, one consultant was receiving ₦59 million under the last administration, while the entire university community was receiving ₦41 million,” he said.
The governor disclosed that his administration had raised the monthly subvention to the university to ₦500 million.
“Since then, it has been about how to revive the school, how to move the school forward and how to reposition it again,” he added.
Okpebholo also revealed that salary and wage arrears owed to AAU staff were estimated at about ₦41 billion, noting that plans were in place to gradually clear the debt.
He warned students not to allow themselves to be used by criminals, urging them to focus on their education and engage the government peacefully.
“Somebody said he is a student, and he protests. What are you protesting for? Don’t allow yourself to be used. Read your books so that you can be like us,” he said.
The governor acknowledged that insecurity remained a serious issue in Ekpoma and across the country, describing it as a shared problem.
He, however, said findings showed that many of the criminal acts around the town were carried out by people from the area.
Condemning the looting and destruction of shops during the protest, Okpebholo said such actions only worsened the situation.
“The same way you are afraid of your life, is the same way I am afraid of my life. Kidnappers do not know the status of anybody, and so it’s a common problem we all have,” he said.
He assured residents and students that his government would not allow criminals to turn Edo State into a safe place for illegal activities.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr Paddy Iyamu, praised the governor for ordering the release of the students and choosing dialogue instead of force.
Other speakers at the meeting also commended the intervention of the state government and its commitment to peace and education.
Those present at the meeting included the Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa; the Chief of Staff, Gani Audu; the Minister of Youth; the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Youth Engagement; and other senior government officials.
