By Our Reporter
The Edo State Government has announced that 38 students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, arrested during last weekend’s unrest in the town, will be released.
The Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu, disclosed this on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief. He said some of the students were released on Tuesday, while others were expected to regain their freedom later on Wednesday.
“We worked late into the night to ensure the release of the students. Altogether, about 38 students are being released,” Iyamu said.
He explained that the violence was not a student-led protest but a disturbance allegedly instigated by individuals from outside Edo State, which resulted in the destruction of property and theft, including items taken from the palace of the traditional ruler in the area.
Iyamu recalled that a similar protest against cultism in May 2025 was conducted peacefully and received directly by the governor at Government House, stressing that lawful and orderly demonstrations are always addressed by the government.
He condemned the violence that followed the recent incident, noting that vandalism, looting, and attacks on traditional institutions were unacceptable.
Following the restoration of peace, the commissioner said the government had approved the resumption of academic activities at Ambrose Alli University.
“Students are to return to school on Monday. Normalcy has been restored, and security agencies are working to sustain the peace,” he added.
The arrests followed a protest on Saturday over rising insecurity and kidnappings in Ekpoma, which later turned violent after suspected hoodlums hijacked the demonstration, attacked traders, and blocked roads with burning tyres.
While some activists and political figures condemned the arrests, the Edo State Government maintained that the incident was a coordinated riot, not a student protest, and insisted that bona fide students would not be punished.
Iyamu confirmed that the state government had begun screening those detained and assured that genuine AAU students would be released after necessary administrative processes.
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