The Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has called for the immediate release of 52 students of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, who were reportedly arrested and detained.
In a solidarity message issued on Tuesday, the senator condemned the arrests, describing them as a troubling attempt to silence young people and stifle democratic participation.
She stressed that constructive dialogue, rather than incarceration, remains the surest path to peace and development, warning that youths should not be treated as criminals for raising concerns through protests about issues affecting their safety, welfare and future. She therefore demanded the unconditional release of the detained students.
Akpoti-Uduaghan further urged the Edo State Government to prioritise tackling kidnappings and other security challenges confronting residents, instead of clamping down on what she described as bold and conscientious voices.
Her remarks followed reports that at least 52 students of the university were remanded in a correctional centre after a coordinated midnight operation by officers of the Nigeria Police Force in Ekpoma.
The students were allegedly arrested late at night and later arraigned in court over their alleged involvement in a protest held the previous Saturday, which was organised to draw attention to the deteriorating security situation in the state.
Reacting to the arrests, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) criticised the continued detention of the students. In a statement released on Monday and signed by its National Public Relations Officer, Adeyemi Ajasa, the association described the action as “absurd, unacceptable and deeply alarming,” insisting that students exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest should not be subjected to intimidation, harassment or psychological distress.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Police Command had claimed that the protest was infiltrated by hoodlums who attacked traders, set tyres ablaze and vandalised the palace of the Onojie of Ekpoma, Zaiki Anthony Abumere II.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, maintained that peaceful protest is guaranteed by the constitution and remains a critical tool for accountability, particularly for young people whose lives and prospects are directly affected by governance failures.
According to her, suppressing students through arrests only worsens public distrust and further distances the government from the people, adding that engagement and sincere dialogue are the appropriate responses.
She reiterated her support for the detained students and their families, noting that her intervention reflects her wider commitment to justice, accountability and youth empowerment.