RismadarVoice Reporters
January 12, 2026
Students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, were among 52 persons on Monday remanded at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre over allegations of malicious damage, armed robbery.
The suspects were remanded by the Benin High Court, presided over by Justice William Aziegbemi, who ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter. The judge directed counsel representing the defendants to file their bail applications before the Ubiaja High Court.
Justice Aziegbemi adjourned the case until February 26, 2026, for hearing.
The suspects were arraigned following an ex parte motion filed by police counsel, P.O. Odion.
Following the court’s ruling, relatives of the defendants reportedly burst into tears as the suspects were taken away in a Black Maria van to the correctional facility.
One of the parents, Abdulsalam, whose two sons were among those arrested, said his children were not involved in the protest which preceded the arrests.
Some defence counsel described the charges of malicious damage and armed robbery as unfounded. Counsel Wisdom Isaac said no formal complaints were made against the suspects, while another lawyer, Ejemi Etinbowei, argued that the protest was not organized by the students but by relatives of a kidnap victim whose body was found in a bush last Friday.
Several of the students claimed they were arrested in the early hours of the morning while asleep in their hostels. One student, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “Most of us were arrested around 3am while we were sleeping. I was not involved in the protest or any looting.”
Ekpoma has recently been embroiled in unrest, following a peaceful protest against insecurity on Saturday which later turned violent. Hoodlums allegedly hijacked the protest, attacked traders, blocked roads with burning tyres and vandalised the palace of the Onojie of Ekpoma, Zaiki Anthony Abumere II.
The attack on the traditional ruler’s palace was condemned by Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo.
It was gathered that the suspects were arrested at different locations across Ekpoma in connection with the violence.
