A former presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has condemned the arrest and remand of 52 students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, who protested against the spate of kidnappings and banditry in their community.
Obi described the situation as “utterly unacceptable” and called for their immediate release.
In a post on his X handle, Obi said: “We cannot and must not punish citizens for voicing legitimate grievances, especially when they are standing up against the very real threats that have devastated our neighbourhoods.”
He expressed disbelief that students were forcibly taken from their hostels at night simply for protesting, “only to be treated as criminals,” while the actual perpetrators of the violence “remain at large, unaccountable for their actions.”
Obi emphasised that as long as insecurity persisted, protests would inevitably continue.
He urged the government to engage the students in dialogue and take decisive steps to reclaim communities from the grip of violence.
“This is not a confrontation between citizens and the government; it is a united front against the criminals who terrorise us,” he noted.
He strongly criticised the punitive approach, saying, “Arresting young people for demanding safety is absolutely intolerable. I call on the government to release these students immediately and unconditionally. Let us move forward with courage, not fear, in guiding our leadership.”
The former Governor of Anambra State concluded his post with a message of hope, saying: “A New Nigeria is Possible.”