Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has sharply criticised the arrest and detention of students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, describing the action as a disturbing sign of rising intolerance under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

In a statement posted on X, Atiku condemned what he called the “high-handed” response of authorities to peaceful student protests over worsening insecurity in the Ekpoma area. He expressed concern that rather than addressing the safety concerns raised by students, the government allegedly resorted to arrests and detention.
“It is unacceptable that authorities would respond to peaceful protests by arresting and detaining dozens of students,” Atiku said, stressing that the right to protest is guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and consistently upheld by the courts.

The former vice president reminded the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government that the foremost duty of any administration is the security and welfare of its citizens. He argued that students should not be punished for speaking out about threats to their safety, adding that Nigeria would be far safer if the energy expended on clamping down on protesters were channelled into combating terrorism and banditry.
“If the same zeal applied to arresting protesters were used to confront criminals—rather than negotiating with them—many communities would be safer,” Atiku stated, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all students allegedly detained for exercising their constitutional rights.

Echoing similar concerns, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan strongly condemned the arrest and continued detention of 52 students, describing the incident as a direct assault on democratic freedoms and a troubling attempt to silence young voices.

In a statement, the Kogi Central lawmaker faulted the conduct of security agencies and Edo State authorities, branding their actions “unlawful and heavy-handed.” She insisted that civic engagement, peaceful protest and dissent are essential pillars of democracy and must never be criminalised.
“Dialogue, not detention, is the pathway to peace and progress,” Akpoti-Uduaghan said. “Our youths must never be punished for speaking up on issues that directly affect their environment, welfare and future. A society that silences its young people mortgages its tomorrow.”

The senator warned that the growing tendency to respond to grievances with arrests rather than engagement risks eroding public trust in government and democratic institutions. She also expressed concern that the incident reflects a broader national pattern of intolerance toward dissent, particularly among students and young Nigerians increasingly vocal about insecurity, governance and economic hardship.
Urging the Edo State government to reassess its priorities, Akpoti-Uduaghan noted that the state continues to grapple with kidnapping and other security challenges that demand urgent attention.
“Suppressing courageous voices will not solve these problems,” she said. “It will only deepen frustration and alienation at a time when trust and cooperation are most needed.”

Both leaders called on authorities to immediately release the detained students and address the root causes of the protest—rising insecurity and fear among residents—warning that repression cannot substitute for responsive and accountable governance.