Former Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has condemned the arrest and remand of 52 students in Ekpoma, Edo State, who protested against the rising wave of kidnappings and banditry in their community.
Obi described the situation as “utterly unacceptable” and called for the immediate release of the students.
In a post on his X handle, Obi said, “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 expressed disbelief that students were forcibly taken from their hostels at night simply for protesting, “only to be treated as criminals,” while the actual perpetrators of the violence “remain at large, unaccountable for their actions.”
Obi emphasized that as long as insecurity persists, protests will inevitably continue. He urged the government to engage the students in dialogue and take decisive steps to reclaim communities from the grip of violence. “This is not a confrontation between citizens and the government; it is a united front against the criminals who terrorise us,” he noted.
He strongly criticized the punitive approach, saying, “Arresting young people for demanding safety is absolutely intolerable. I call on the government to release these students immediately and unconditionally. Let us move forward with courage, not fear, in guiding our leadership.”
The former vice-presidential candidate concluded his post with a message of hope: “A New Nigeria is Possible.”
