Tension flared in Ekpoma, the administrative headquarters of Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, on Monday as a protest over alleged rising cases of kidnapping disrupted activities in the university town.
The demonstration, staged by a group of youths and individuals who claimed to be students, began around the Poultry Road axis of Ekpoma and was aimed at drawing attention to what protesters described as persistent insecurity threatening residents and students.
The group had last week announced plans for a mass peaceful protest, identifying themselves as students of Ambrose Alli University, and accusing authorities of failing to adequately respond to the growing wave of kidnappings in the area.
One of the protest leaders, Andrew Oziegbe, said the demonstration was prompted by frustration over what he described as the inadequate response of relevant authorities to security challenges in Ekpoma.
He called for urgent government intervention to stem the tide of kidnappings and restore confidence among residents and the student population.
The protesters cited the recent abduction of Akhabhe Favour and an unnamed former Student Union leader of the university as incidents that heightened fear within the community and prompted the action.
However, the management of Ambrose Alli University swiftly dissociated the institution from the protest, insisting that neither the university nor its students were involved.
In a statement, the university’s Principal Assistant Registrar and Head of Information, Protocol and Public Relations, Mike Aladenika, condemned what he described as an attempt to disrupt the institution’s peaceful academic environment.
“The individuals involved in the protest are not registered students of Ambrose Alli University, nor members of the Students’ Union Government, and are not affiliated with the institution in any capacity,” Aladenika said.
He added that the protesters lacked the authorisation to represent the university or organise activities in its name, warning that any unauthorised actions would attract appropriate measures to protect the university’s interests and maintain order.
