Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has again dismissed claims linking students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, to the recent unrest in the town, insisting that the incident was not a students’ protest but a criminal operation carried out by non-students exploiting the university environment.
The Governor stated this on Tuesday during a meeting with the President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of Ambrose Alli University, where issues surrounding the disturbance, arrests and security concerns were extensively discussed.
According to Governor Okpebholo, intelligence reports available to the state government indicate that the violence was orchestrated by a group known as the “Ambrose Alli Comrade Community,” made up of individuals who are no longer students but allegedly loiter around the campus to foment trouble and extort law-abiding students.
“This was not a students’ protest,” the Governor said. “These are people who are no longer students but hang around the school environment, causing trouble and extorting students. We will put an end to that.”
He assured the SUG leadership that any genuine students arrested in the course of restoring order would be promptly identified and released.
“For students who may have been arrested, we will look into it and get them released. That is a promise. This was not their protest. In fact, it was not a protest at all; it was an avenue to loot,” the Governor added.
Governor Okpebholo also dismissed reports of kidnapping linked to the incident, describing them as fake and stage-managed to mislead the public and incite ethnic tension. He alleged that the purported kidnapping was orchestrated by the same criminal elements, noting with concern that lives were lost during the unrest.
The Governor strongly condemned the burning of markets and destruction of property in Ekpoma, warning that anyone found sponsoring or using hoodlums to destabilise communities in Edo State would face the full weight of the law, regardless of political affiliation.
“I don’t care whether you are a politician or not. If you are using people to destroy our land and economy, we will go after you,” he said.
He further emphasised that the Edo State Government harbours no ill feelings towards AAU students, stressing that the university remains closed and that no arrests were made within the campus.
Reinforcing the Governor’s position, the SUG President of Ambrose Alli University, Comrade Osadebamen Ehizogie Michael, described attempts to link the unrest to students as unfortunate and misleading.
“Students did not organise any protest. His Excellency has been in touch with us and has assured us that any students among those arrested will be released,” he said.
Also speaking, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the university, Prof. Andrew Eromonsele, confirmed that no arrests were made within the AAU campus, further distancing the institution from the incident.
The meeting was attended by the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu.
The Edo State Government reiterated its commitment to protecting students, restoring peace in Ekpoma and ensuring that criminal elements exploiting the university environment are decisively dealt with in accordance with the law.
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