Public pressure is mounting on the Edo State Government and security agencies to immediately release 14 protesters still in custody following a peaceful demonstration against kidnapping and violent crimes in Ekpoma and surrounding communities.
Last Saturday, thousands of residents of Ekpoma and neighbouring towns stage a peaceful protest to demand urgent government action over rising kidnapping cases and the killing of a young man by armed attackers. Protesters march through major roads with placards, calling for improved security and justice for victims. Mediaplusng.com reports that the protest remains largely peaceful and unarmed.
However, on Monday, the Edo State Police Command secures a High Court order to remand 52 protesters, including students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), who are arrested after the protest. The remand sparks widespread criticism from civil society groups and legal experts, who argue that the action violates constitutional provisions and the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Edo State.
Following public condemnation, the Edo State Government orders the release of 38 students among those detained. Despite this move, concerns deepen as plans emerge to arraign the remaining 14 protesters on charges of armed robbery and other related offences. Mediaplusng.com understands that this development has intensified fears of criminalising peaceful civic action.
Legal analysts insist that the Ekpoma protesters are exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, as guaranteed under Sections 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution and Articles 9 and 10 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. They argue that protesting insecurity, kidnapping, and government inaction falls squarely within protected civic engagement.
Referencing landmark court rulings, rights advocates note that Nigerian courts have consistently upheld the right of citizens to protest peacefully. In All Nigeria Peoples Party v Inspector-General of Police, the courts invalidate police permits for rallies and affirm that citizens can lawfully demonstrate against government policies without prior approval.
They also cite the Court of Appeal decision in Inspector-General of Police v All Nigeria Peoples Party, which confirms that peaceful protests are a legitimate expression of democratic rights. The judgment further urges reforms to align public order laws with constitutional guarantees.
Legal experts add that Section 83(4) of the Police Establishment Act 2020 clearly places the responsibility on the police to provide security for any notified public protest or procession, rather than suppress or criminalise it. Failure to provide adequate security, they argue, cannot justify mass arrests of protesters.
Although reports indicate that some angry youths allegedly loot shops belonging to traders during the protest, rights groups maintain that peaceful protesters cannot be held vicariously liable for criminal acts committed by others. They stress that criminal responsibility must be individual, not collective.
In a statement signed by human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), calls intensify for the immediate release of the remaining 14 protesters, describing their continued detention as unlawful and unjust. Falana insists that equal treatment demands their release, just as the 38 students have already regained freedom.
Observers warn that prosecuting protesters could further erode public trust in governance and security institutions, especially in communities already grappling with fear and violence. They urge the Edo State Government to prioritise dialogue, accountability, and improved security rather than punitive actions against citizens demanding protection.
As the situation unfolds, civil society organisations say they will continue to monitor developments closely and pursue all legal avenues to ensure the protection of constitutional rights and the release of all detained protesters.
