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As Court Orders Remand of Students
- Safiu Kehinde
No fewer than 50 students of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, have been arrested over alleged involvement in anti-kidnapping protest in Edo State.
This was disclosed in series of posts and videos shared on X on Monday.
According to reports, some angry youths had last weekend demonstrated against the spate of kidnapping and other forms of insecurity in the town located in the Esan West Local Government Area of the state.
The protesters were said to have stormed public areas, especially markets where some suspected cattle breeders could be seen fleeing as they spotted the angry mob of protesters.
In reaction, the Edo State Police Command, in a statement issued on Sunday claimed that the protest was hijacked with properties looted and shop vandalised.
The police in joint operation with other security agencies were reportedly deployed to the protest ground to restore public order and prevent further degeneration of the situation.
Subsequent action from the Command was the profiling of about 52 students alleged to have joined in the protest.
This would be the followed by the Monday invasion of the Ekpoma community where the students were arrested.
The videos shared on X showed moment the police arrived at the community with Black Maria van.
Several students picked up by the security operatives were whiskered into the waiting van despite pleas from residents.
Another video showed the students pleading with President Bola Tinubu for mercy as they claimed to be innocent.
As against their plea, the Edo Police Command would arraign the students before the Edo State High Court, Criminal Court Two.
The court in its ruling ordered, the remand of the students at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre following a plea of the prosecution for a 14-day remand period.