Violent Protest: Police Arraign 52 Suspects in Edo

Felix Omoh-Asun in Benin

Criminal Court II, Benin, Edo State has remanded 52 people to the Ubiaja Correctional Centre in Esan South East Local Government  following last Saturday’s protest in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area over the killing of a kidnap victim by his abductors while shouting for help.

The weekend protest turned violent as several shops were looted and the Palace of the Onojie of Ekpoma was vandalised.

The suspects were arraigned by the Edo State Police Command on charges of robbery, conspiracy to disturb peace and security, malicious damage, among others.

The suspects were arraigned by    police counsel, P. O Odion.

Presiding Judge, Justice Wlliam Aziegbemi, in a short ruling,  said he lacked the  jurisdiction to entertain the case and asked counsel representing the defendants to file bail application at the Ubiaja High Court.

He thereafter,  remanded the suspects to the Ubiaja Correctional Centre and adjourned the case to February 26, 2026 for hearing.

Journalists were, however,  barred by security agents from entering the court to cover the proceedings claiming there was an order that they should allow only lawyers to enter the court.

Speaking after the arraignment,  Wisdom Isaac said nobody made any complaints against the suspects.

Meanwhile, tears flowed freely as mothers and fathers struggled to give water, drinks, food and money to the defendants, who are mostly students of Ambrose Alli University. 

They were subsequently marched into the black Maria enroute Ubiaja.

Many suspects said they were abducted from their residences by security agencies at night and some early Sunday morning and they were moved straight to the State Command Headquarters of the Nigerian Police.

One Ejemi Etinbowei said it was the family of the kidnap victim that started the protest that attracted other people, adding that the students never organised the said protest.

A man, whose two sons were arrested and gave his name as Abdulsalam, said his children never participated in the protest while a mother said her son was taking his clothes to a dry cleaner when he was arrested.