- Safiu Kehinde
Former Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has called for the release of the 52 arrested students of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo state, as he accused President Bola Tinubu of high-handedness and intolerance.
Atiku made the call in a statement issued on his official X handle on Tuesday.
NPO Reported that the students were yesterday arrested in a raid on Ekpoma community by joint security task force over their alleged involvement in the anti-kidnapping protest which broke out during the weekend.
Videos shared on X showed moment the students were whiskered away in a Black Maria van and were subsequently arraigned to court despite pleas for their release.
The state governor, Monday Okpebholo, had defended the arrest, accusing the students of inciting public unrest which led to looting and vandalism.
He had also made claim of the students’ possible engagement as informants to the bandits attacking the state.
Reacting to the development, Atiku reiterated the students’ right to protest.
While reminding Tinubu of government’s primary responsibility which is security and welfare of the citizens, the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) charged the President to channel his energy to fight against terrorism and banditry.
The statement read; “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 the Ekpoma area of Edo State is to arrest and detain dozens of students of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU).
“The right to protest is not only enshrined in the constitution but has also been validated by the courts. Meanwhile,
“I wish to remind the Tinubu-led APC administration that the primary responsibility of government is the security and welfare of the citizens.
“If the energy with which innocent students and citizens are arrested for raising concerns about insecurity were deployed to fighting terrorism and banditry, instead of negotiating with the criminals, our communities would be safer.
“I call for the immediate and unconstitutional release of all those unjustifiably detained for asserting their legitimate rights to protest.”