Peter Obi has strongly condemned the arrest and remand of 52 students in Benin, Edo State, who staged a protest against the rising wave of kidnapping and banditry in their communities, describing the action as alarming, unjust, and unacceptable.
He said citizens, particularly young people, must not be punished for peacefully demanding safety and accountability from those in power.
The former Labour Party presidential candidate expressed outrage that the students were picked up from their hostels at night and treated like criminals for exercising their right to protest, while terrorists and kidnappers responsible for widespread fear and violence continue to roam free.
According to him, the situation reflects a troubling misplacement of priorities by authorities.
Obi warned that continued failure to address insecurity would inevitably lead to more public protests, stressing that such actions should be viewed as legitimate calls for urgent government intervention rather than acts of defiance.
He urged the Edo State Government under Governor Monday Okpebholo to engage the students through dialogue and channel its efforts toward reclaiming communities from criminal elements.
He called for the immediate and unconditional release of the detained students, insisting that the fight against insecurity must unite citizens and government, not set them against each other.
Obi added that Nigeria’s leadership must act with courage and responsibility, focusing on confronting bandits and kidnappers rather than silencing those who speak out against violence.
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