Fight Bandits, Not Students — Peter Obi Warns Edo Government

Former Anambra State governor and ex-presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has strongly criticised the arrest and remand of 52 students in Ekpoma, Edo State, describing the action as a dangerous misplacement of priorities amid rising insecurity.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Obi said it was deeply troubling that students protesting kidnappings and banditry were treated as criminals, while those responsible for the violence remain free.

According to him, the students were allegedly arrested from their hostels at night after staging protests to draw attention to the worsening insecurity 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.

He warned against punishing citizens for expressing legitimate concerns, especially when they are speaking out against threats that have already devastated many communities.

“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,” he stated.

Obi described the arrests as an inversion of justice, noting that peaceful protesters were being criminalised while the real offenders continue to operate unchecked.

“It is beyond belief that students were taken from their hostels at night simply for protesting, only to be treated as criminals. Meanwhile, the actual perpetrators, the bandits and kidnappers wreaking havoc, remain at large, unaccountable for their actions,” he said.

He added that continued insecurity would inevitably lead to more public protests, stressing that such actions should not be viewed as hostility towards government.

“The reality is clear: as long as insecurity continues unabated, more protests will follow. This is not a confrontation between citizens and the government; it is a united front against the criminals who terrorise us,” Obi said.

Calling for a more courageous response from authorities, Obi concluded: “Arresting young people for demanding safety is absolutely intolerable. Let us move forward with courage, not fear, in guiding our leadership.”

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