Speaking in a statement issued Tuesday, the senator urged the immediate release of the detained students, insisting that peaceful protest and civic engagement have no place in the criminal justice system of a democracy.
The Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has condemned the arrest and unlawful detention of 52 students of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, describing the action as a dangerous suppression of youth voices and democratic expression.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Senator called for the immediate release of the detained students, insisting that protest and civic engagement must never be criminalized in a democratic society.
“Dialogue, not detention, is the pathway to peace and progress,” Akpoti-Uduaghan said, adding that youths must not be criminalised for speaking out and protesting issues affecting their environment, welfare and future.
The lawmaker criticised the handling of the situation by authorities in Edo State, urging the government to shift its focus to the growing insecurity facing residents, including kidnappings and related crimes.
“The Edo State government must prioritize tackling kidnappings and other security challenges rather than silencing discerning and courageous voices,” she said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasised that peaceful protest is a constitutional right and a critical tool for accountability, particularly for young people whose futures are directly shaped by governance outcomes.
“Silencing students through arrests only deepens mistrust and widens the gap between the government and the governed. Engagement and honest dialogue are the responsible responses,” the senator said.
She concluded by reaffirming her solidarity with the detained students and their families, noting that her intervention reflects her broader commitment to justice and youth empowerment.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that no fewer than 52 students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU) were remanded in a correctional facility following a coordinated midnight operation by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.
The students were reportedly arrested from various hostels across the university town and later arraigned in court over their alleged involvement in a protest held the previous Saturday against worsening insecurity in the state.
Several students who spoke to SaharaReporters said the arrests were indiscriminate and did not take place at the protest venue. Instead, they alleged that police officers stormed hostels in the dead of night, arresting students from their rooms.
Meanwhile, revolutionary activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, also condemned the arrest and remand of the students, describing the actions of the Nigeria Police Force and the Edo State government as an abuse of power aimed at criminalising student activism.
“This is a despicable and unacceptable way to treat students randomly arrested by the Nigeria Police Force. It is abuse of power, pure and simple,” Sowore said.
He urged the courts to act swiftly, grant the students bail, and dismiss what he described as “bogus, manufactured charges.”
Sowore further called on Nigerian students to remain vigilant and organized in the face of repression, insisting that any attempt to criminalized student activism must be resisted, ending his statement with the hashtag #RevolutionNow.