APC hunts down students, negotiates with bandits – Atiku on Ekpoma protest

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.