CAPPA Condemns Arrest Of AAU Students, Urges Edo Govt To Tackle Kidnappers, Not Protesters
Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has condemned the arrest and imprisonment of 52 students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, describing the action as a disturbing case of state power being deployed against victims of insecurity rather than the criminals behind it.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the organisation criticised the Edo State Government and the Nigeria Police for remanding the students at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre on charges of malicious damage and robbery, following a peaceful protest against rising cases of kidnapping around the university community.
According to CAPPA, armed security operatives carried out a midnight raid on student hostels at about 3 a.m. on Sunday, dragging students from their beds in a sweeping operation that left the campus in fear.
Some of those arrested were reportedly not part of the protest and were taken away in their sleepwear.
The protest, held on Saturday, January 10, 2026, was sparked by repeated abductions near student hostels and along school routes in Ekpoma.
CAPPA noted that the students’ fears were further validated when another kidnapping was captured on CCTV just a day after the demonstration.
Describing the arrests as “absurd and morally bankrupt,” CAPPA said the government had failed in its primary duty to protect lives, choosing instead to criminalise young people demanding safety.
The organisation warned that insecurity is crippling learning, traumatising students, and placing female students at heightened risk of violence.
CAPPA called for the immediate and unconditional release of the detained students, an independent investigation into the arrests, and a shift in government priorities towards tackling kidnappers, engaging communities, and addressing the root causes of insecurity.
“Jailing frightened students will not stop kidnappings,” the group said, insisting that only genuine political will and commitment to public safety can restore confidence and security in Edo State.
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