EDO STATE – More than 50 persons, including students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, are set to be arraigned at a Criminal Court in Benin City on Monday over their alleged involvement in a violent protest that rocked Ekpoma town in Esan West Local Government Area.
The suspects were arrested by police after a protest by residents over incessant kidnappings and killings escalated into widespread looting and vandalism, including an attack on the palace of the Onojie of Ekpoma.
According to reports, many of the students were arrested from off-campus hostels in the early hours of Monday, with some claiming they were asleep when security operatives picked them up at about 3 a.m. They were subsequently transported in a Black Maria to Benin City for prosecution.
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, visited the vandalized palace on Monday and condemned the wanton destruction of property, describing the actions as criminal rather than protest-related.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Eno Ikoedem, stated that those arrested participated in “looting and violent acts,” adding that the command would not tolerate lawlessness under the guise of protest.
At the court premises, relatives of the detained suspects gathered anxiously as security personnel restricted access to the courtroom, barring journalists from covering the proceedings.
The incident highlights rising tension in Edo communities over insecurity and raises concerns about the nature of protest policing and student involvement in civil unrest.
Disclaimer: This report is based on police statements and eyewitness accounts. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
© 2026 CDA News Nigeria. All rights reserved
