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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has condemned the arrest and continued detention of 52 students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, describing the development as an assault on democratic freedoms and a troubling attempt to silence young Nigerians.
Some students of the school on January 5 staged a peaceful protest against rising cases of kidnapping and insecurity affecting students and their host communities but were arrested and thrown I to detention thereafter.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the senator expressed solidarity with the detained students and their families, insisting that peaceful protest and civic engagement must be protected, not punished, in a democratic society.
“Dialogue, not detention, is the pathway to peace and progress,” Akpoti-Uduaghan said, warning that criminalising student protests undermines democratic values and deepens public distrust in government institutions.
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She faulted the response of authorities in Edo State, arguing that the arrests reflected misplaced priorities at a time when residents are grappling with worsening insecurity, including cases of kidnapping and other violent crimes.
“The government of Edo State must focus its energy on addressing kidnappings and other forms of insecurity, rather than suppressing discerning and courageous voices who are speaking out about issues that affect their welfare and future,” she said.
The lawmaker stressed that peaceful protest is a constitutionally guaranteed right and remains one of the most effective tools available to citizens, particularly young people, to demand accountability from those in power.
According to her, the detention of students for exercising their civic rights risks widening the gap between government and the governed. She noted that “silencing students through arrests only fuels mistrust. Constructive engagement and honest dialogue are the responsible and democratic responses.”
She stressed that her intervention aligns with her longstanding advocacy for justice, youth empowerment, and the protection of fundamental human rights.
