A Benin High Court remanded 52 Ambrose Alli University (AAU) students over an anti-kidnapping protest in Edo State.
Authorities in Edo State escalated tensions on January 12, 2026, when police arrested dozens of Ambrose Alli University (AAU) students in midnight raids on their hostels in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area.
Officers tracked the students down around 3 a.m., pulling them from their beds and transporting them in police vehicles to Benin City for detention.
The arrests followed a protest that residents organized two days earlier to demand action against surging kidnappings that terrorized the community, including recent abductions and killings.
However, chaos erupted during the demonstration, as some participants allegedly damaged property and engaged in robbery, prompting law enforcement to intervene.
Prosecutors charged the 52 suspects—mostly young AAU students—with malicious damage, armed robbery, and related offenses at the Benin High Court.
Justice Aziegbemi swiftly ordered their remand at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre and adjourned the case until February 26, 2026, for further hearings.
Meanwhile, several students insisted on their innocence, claiming they slept through the protest and faced wrongful arrests simply for living in the area.
Videos circulating on social media captured the detainees’ emotional pleas from court, highlighting their fear and frustration as authorities paraded them before the judge.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) immediately condemned the actions and demanded the unconditional release of all 52 individuals.
NANS leaders described the detentions as a “deliberate act of oppression” against youth who merely sought safety from kidnappers disrupting their lives and studies.
Additionally, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) joined the chorus, urging Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo to intervene and free the protesters without delay.
SERAP emphasized that the government must prioritize protecting citizens from violence rather than punishing those who highlight failures in security.
Furthermore, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State blasted the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration for criminalizing civic engagement.
PDP officials argued that the arrests exposed a regime fearful of accountability, especially amid porous borders and unchecked crime that left communities vulnerable.
In contrast, Edo police spokesperson Eno Ikoedem defended the charges, stating that officers apprehended the suspects for violent acts during the rally.
Online outrage exploded across platforms like X, where users shared heartbreaking footage of the students and launched campaigns for their freedom.
Activists drew parallels to broader Nigerian struggles, noting how insecurity forced everyday people into desperation while authorities focused on silencing dissent.
For instance, one viral post showed students using laser pointers from dorm windows as a symbolic resistance during the arrests.
This incident underscores Edo State’s deepening security woes, where kidnappers operate with impunity, abducting residents and demanding ransoms that devastate families.
Recently, assailants kidnapped a doctor and his brother, killing the sibling and dumping his body by a riverside.
Nevertheless, civil society groups vow to press on, warning that suppressing protests only fuels resentment and erodes trust in governance.
As the case drags into February, advocates continue rallying support, insisting that the government addresses root causes like poverty and weak policing instead of targeting vulnerable youth.
