- AAU Disowns Protesters Over Ekpoma Kidnapping Demonstration
- The university also described the protest as null and void
- The protesters said the demonstration was aimed at drawing the attention of government authorities to the rising cases of kidnapping in the area
The management of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, has disowned individuals who staged a protest against alleged incessant kidnappings in the area, saying those involved are not registered students of the institution.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the university made the clarification in a statement issued on Monday by the Principal Assistant Registrar and Head of Information, Protocol and Public Relations, Otunba Mike Ade Aladenika, in Benin City.
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Aladenika said the university had dissociated itself and its students from the protest, stressing that the organisers were neither registered students of AAU nor members of the Students’ Union Government.
According to him, the protesters have no affiliation with the university and lack the authority to organise or represent the institution in any form.
He added that the management condemned any attempt to disrupt the academic environment of the university and warned that unauthorised actions would be addressed to maintain peace and order on campus.
The university also described the protest as null and void, urging students, staff and members of the public to disregard it and go about their lawful activities, noting that adequate security arrangements had been put in place to prevent disturbances.
The statement came against the backdrop of a peaceful protest staged on Monday, January 4, 2026, by students and youths in Ekpoma, the administrative headquarters of Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.
The protesters said the demonstration was aimed at drawing the attention of government authorities to the rising cases of kidnapping in the area.
One of the protest leaders, Andrew Oziegbe, said the response of relevant authorities to the security situation had been inadequate and called for urgent intervention to address the menace.
Oziegbe also said the protest followed the recent abduction of a student identified as Akhabhe Favour and an unnamed former student union leader of the institution.
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