Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the
arrest and detention of students of Ambrose Alli University, AAU, Ekpoma,
describing the action as a sign of growing intolerance under the administration
of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement posted on his official X page on Tuesday,
Atiku expressed concern over what he termed the “high-handedness” of the
Federal Government in responding to students’ protests against insecurity in
the Ekpoma area of Edo State.
According to him, it is unacceptable that authorities would
respond to peaceful protests by arresting and detaining dozens of students,
noting that the right to protest is guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and
upheld by the courts.
Atiku reminded the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress,
APC, administration that the primary responsibility of government is the
security and welfare of citizens, stressing that students should not be
punished for raising legitimate concerns about their safety.
He further argued that if the same level of energy used in
arresting protesters were applied to tackling terrorism and banditry, rather
than negotiating with criminals, communities across the country would be safer.
The former Vice President called for the immediate and
unconditional release of all those he described as unjustly detained for
exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest.
Source: APC hunts down students, negotiates with bandits – Atiku on Ekpoma protest
