Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called for the immediate and unconditional release of the 52 persons currently remanded in Ubiaja Correctional Centre, Edo State, for allegedly participating in a demonstration.
Atiku in a release condemned the Federal Government and Edo State authorities for the arrest and remanding of 52 individuals in Ekpoma.
The former Vice President criticised the Bola Tinubu-led administration for suppressing civic expression even in the midst of the failure to address the country’s insecurity crisis.
Atiku further described the response to insecurity protests as an intolerant and heavy-handed assault on constitutional rights.
“The level of intolerance and high-handedness of the Bola Tinubu administration is concerning.
“It is unacceptable that the authorities’ response to students’ protest against insecurity in Ekpoma is to arrest and detain dozens of students,” he noted.
Continuing, Atiku pointed out that, “If the energy with which innocent students and citizens are arrested were deployed to fighting terrorism and banditry, instead of negotiating with criminals, our communities would be safer.”
Recall, the arrests followed a protest in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area, which began as a peaceful demonstration against rising kidnappings, including the recent abduction of Akhabhe Favour and the January 9 killing of a young man.
The protest later escalated into violence, with reports of looting at a livestock market and the vandalisation of the Onojie of Ekpoma’s palace.
The 52 suspects, who are mostly students, were arraigned on Monday before Justice William Aziegbemi of the Benin High Court, facing charges including armed robbery, arson, and malicious damage.
The case was adjourned to February 26 after Justice Aziegbemi ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction over the matter and directed that the defence file bail applications at the Ubiaja High Court.
