Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has launched a scathing attack on the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing it of “high-handedness” following the arrest and remand of several students from Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma.
The opposition leader expressed deep concern over the federal government’s approach to civic engagement, suggesting that the current leadership is more interested in suppressing young voices than tackling the root causes of insecurity.
In a statement released via his official X account on Tuesday, Atiku described the detention of the students as a troubling sign of “growing intolerance” within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government.
He noted that the students were merely exercising their constitutional right to demand better security in the Ekpoma area of Edo State, which has recently been plagued by a surge in kidnappings and killings.
Atiku did not mince words as he compared the government’s swift action against student protesters to its softer stance toward armed non-state actors.
He argued that it is “unacceptable” for the authorities to respond to peaceful demonstrations with mass arrests while simultaneously engaging in talks with criminal elements.
He stressed that the primary duty of any government remains the “security and welfare of citizens,” emphasizing that no student should face punishment for speaking up about their safety.
“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,” Atiku stated.
The former Vice President’s reaction comes on the heels of the arraignment of 52 individuals, including AAU students, before an Edo State High Court on Monday.
The suspects were remanded at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre following a protest that the police alleged had been hijacked by hoodlums, leading to the destruction of property and an attack on the palace of the Onojie of Ekpoma.
Also, Atiku reminded the Tinubu administration that the right to peaceful protest is firmly “guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and upheld by the courts.”
He further called for the “immediate and unconditional release” of all those he believes have been unjustly detained. According to him, the use of state power to intimidate the youth will only deepen the trust deficit between the government and the governed.