The cries for justice in Ekpoma took a complicated turn this week, leaving dozens of students behind bars. However, on Tuesday, Governor Monday Okpebholo stepped in, ordering immediate action to separate “bona fide students” from the “hoodlums” who allegedly hijacked a demonstration against local kidnappings.
The Protest That Went Wrong
What began as a plea for safety against rampant kidnappings in the Ekpoma community ended in chaos on Monday. Out of 52 individuals arrested and remanded at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre, many are students who claim they were simply caught in the crossfire.
The state’s Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, visited the correctional facility on Tuesday to begin the vetting process. His mission: ensure that no innocent student pays the price for a protest that turned into a looting spree.
The “Comrade Association” Factor
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According to the state government, the violence wasn’t the work of the student body, but rather a shadowy group known as the “Comrade Association.” > “These are ex-students who seize any problem to cause mayhem. They went to a traditional ruler’s house and took food items—that is not the character of an Edo student.” — Dr. Paddy Iyamu, Commissioner for Education.
Iyamu clarified that the official Student Union Government (SUG) never authorized the march, especially since the university was not in session. He accused this external group of co-opting young students to give their “dastardly acts” a face of legitimacy.
A Governor’s Promise
For the parents and peers of the detained, there is a glimmer of hope. Governor Okpebholo has vowed that every verified AAU student will be released once the identification process is complete.
Osadebamwen Ehizojie, the AAU SUG President, expressed relief at the Governor’s intervention, confirming that while the students are desperate for security in their community, they did not intend for the protest to turn into a criminal enterprise.
thank you so much