Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has unleashed a scathing attack on the Bola Tinubu administration, accusing it of prioritizing the suppression of student protesters over combating terrorism that continues to plague communities across Nigeria.
In a pointed statement on X, Atiku highlighted the stark contrast between the government’s aggressive response to peaceful demonstrations and its alleged negotiations with terrorists, calling the approach a dangerous misplacement of priorities that undermines citizen safety.
The controversy stems from a recent wave of unrest in Ekpoma, Edo State, where students from Ambrose Alli University (AAU) took to the streets to protest escalating terrorist activities in the area.
The demonstrations, which began as a call for enhanced security measures, reportedly escalated into clashes on January 12, 2026, leading to a midnight police raid that resulted in the arrest of over 50 individuals, many of them current and former students.
Rights groups have described the operation as “Gestapo-style,” emphasizing that the protesters were exercising their constitutional right to assembly amid growing fears of terrorist incursions in the region.
In his X post, Atiku did not mince words: “The level of intolerance and high-handedness of the Bola Tinubu administration is concerning.
It is unacceptable that the authorities’ response to students’ protest against insecurity in the Ekpoma area of Edo State is to arrest and detain dozens of students of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU).”
He further underscored the irony at the heart of the issue, stating, “If the energy with which innocent students and citizens are arrested for raising concerns about insecurity were deployed to fighting terrorism and banditry, instead of negotiating with the criminals, our communities would be safer.”
Atiku’s use of the term “criminals” in reference to terrorists aligns with broader criticisms of the administration’s security strategy, which opponents claim favors dialogue over decisive action against armed groups responsible for widespread violence.
Reflecting on the event, Atiku’s intervention comes at a time when Nigeria grapples with persistent terrorist threats, particularly in the northern and central regions, where attacks have displaced communities and disrupted daily life.
The Ekpoma protests were triggered by a series of terrorist incidents that have heightened local anxieties, with residents demanding government intervention to restore safety.
However, the swift crackdown on the students has sparked outrage, with critics arguing it exemplifies a broader pattern of repressing dissent under the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC).
This incident echoes recent arrests of other voices critical of the government, such as activist Abubakar Salim Musa, whom Atiku has also demanded be released, labeling his detention as part of an escalating clampdown on free speech.
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has responded to the backlash by directing the release of the detained students following a meeting with university representatives.
The governor attributed the unrest to “former students” rather than the current student body, suggesting the protests may have been hijacked by external elements.
Despite this, opposition figures like Atiku maintain that the initial arrests were unjustified and reflect a federal-level intolerance that trickles down to state actions.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has joined the chorus of condemnation, describing the arrests as a “dangerous suppression of youth voices” and warning that criminalizing protests erodes democratic foundations.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International Nigeria, have echoed these sentiments, urging the administration to uphold constitutional protections rather than stifle them.
Atiku’s call for the “immediate and unconditional release” of all those detained has resonated widely on social media, with supporters framing it as a reminder of the government’s core duty: securing the welfare of its citizens.
As Nigeria navigates these tensions, the Ekpoma arrests serve as a flashpoint, highlighting the delicate balance between maintaining order and preserving democratic rights in the face of ongoing terrorist challenges.
READ ALSO: There Was No Protest In Ekpoma, Only Riots Sponsored By Nigerian Resident In Russia — Okpebholo
The Tinubu administration has yet to issue a direct response to Atiku’s latest broadside, but the episode underscores deepening political divisions ahead of future elections.
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