A group of students on Monday staged a peaceful protest, calling for an end to what they described as an increasing rate of kidnapping in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.
The protest followed an announcement last week by individuals identified as students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, indicating plans to embark on a mass peaceful demonstration over rising cases of kidnapping within the university community.
The protesters said their action was triggered by the recent abduction of Akhabhe Favour and an unnamed former student union leader of the institution.
Speaking to journalists during the protest, its leader, Andrew Oziegbe, said the demonstration was intended to draw attention to the persistent insecurity in the area.
He appealed for decisive security intervention to address the abductions, describing the response of relevant authorities to the situation as inadequate.
Meanwhile, the university management, in a statement issued by the Principal Assistant Registrar/Head of Information, Protocol and Public Relations, Otunba Mike Ade Aladenika, distanced the institution and its students from the protest.
Aladenika said, “The individuals involved in the protest are not registered students, members of the University Students’ Union Government, nor are they affiliated with the institution in any capacity.
“They do not have the authorization or right to represent the university or organize activities in its name.”
He added that any unauthorised actions would be addressed with appropriate measures to protect the institution’s interests and ensure order.
