ARRESTING STUDENTS FOR DEMANDING SAFETY IS INTOLERABLE — PETER OBI
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has strongly condemned the arrest and remand of 52 students in Ekpoma, Edo State, describing the action as “utterly unacceptable” and a dangerous violation of citizens’ right to demand protection from insecurity.
Obi made the remarks in a statement shared late Tuesday on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, reacting to reports that students were arrested after protesting against the growing threat of kidnappings and banditry in their community.
“I have just been made aware of the alarming arrest and remand of 52 students in Ekpoma, Edo State, who bravely called for an end to the terror of kidnappers and bandits plaguing their community,” Obi said.
“This situation is utterly unacceptable. We cannot and must not punish citizens for voicing legitimate grievances, especially when they are standing up against the very real threats that have devastated our neighbourhoods.”
According to the former Anambra State governor, the students were reportedly picked up from their hostels at night following a protest, an action he described as disturbing and unjust, especially as the criminals responsible for the insecurity remain at large.
“It is beyond belief that students were taken from their hostels at night simply for protesting and then treated as criminals,” Obi said. “Meanwhile, the actual perpetrators—the bandits and kidnappers wreaking havoc—remain free and unaccountable.”
Obi warned that protests would persist for as long as insecurity continues to threaten lives and livelihoods across the country, stressing that the government must treat such demonstrations as a call for urgent action, not an act of defiance.
He urged authorities to engage the affected students through dialogue and take decisive steps to restore safety in their communities.
“The reality is clear: as long as insecurity continues unabated, more protests will follow. The government has a responsibility to engage in dialogue with these students and reclaim their communities from the grip of violent criminals,” he said.
“This is not a confrontation between citizens and the government; it is a united front against those who terrorise our people.”
The former presidential candidate described the arrest and detention of the students as intolerable and called for their immediate and unconditional release, urging leaders to respond with courage rather than intimidation.
“Arresting young people for demanding safety is absolutely intolerable. I call on the government to release these students immediately and unconditionally. We must move forward with courage, not fear, in guiding our leadership,” Obi said.
The incident has sparked renewed debate on civil rights, freedom of expression, and the government’s response to rising insecurity, particularly in communities affected by violent crime.