Atiku slams arrest of Ambrose Alli University students, accuses Tinubu administration of intolerance

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the arrest and detention of students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, describing the action as evidence of growing intolerance under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, Atiku expressed deep concern over what he termed the “high-handedness” of the Federal Government in responding to students’ protests against rising insecurity in Ekpoma and its surrounding communities in Edo State.

According to the former Vice President, it is unacceptable for authorities to respond to peaceful demonstrations with arrests and detentions, stressing that the right to protest is enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and has been consistently upheld by the courts.

“At a time when citizens, particularly young people, are raising legitimate concerns about their safety, the appropriate response of government should be engagement and action, not repression,” Atiku said.

He reminded the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration that the primary responsibility of any government is the security and welfare of its citizens, noting that students should not be punished for drawing attention to threats to their lives and property.

Atiku further argued that the energy and resources deployed to clamp down on protesters would be better directed toward confronting the country’s worsening security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, and violent crime.

READ ALSO: Atiku: 2025 among Nigeria’s most punishing years

“If the same urgency shown in arresting peaceful protesters were applied to decisively tackling criminals, rather than negotiating with them, many communities across the country would be far safer,” he stated.

The former Vice President also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all students he described as being unjustly detained for exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest.

The arrest of the AAU students followed demonstrations against alleged insecurity in Ekpoma, a university town that has witnessed growing concerns over attacks, harassment, and criminal activity.

The incident has sparked debate among rights advocates and political observers, with critics warning that the handling of the protests could further strain relations between the government and young Nigerians already frustrated by economic and security challenges.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the Federal Government or security agencies regarding Atiku’s remarks or the status of the detained students.