The Edo State High Court sitting in Criminal Court 2 has ordered the remand of 52 youths at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre following a violent protest against kidnapping and insecurity in Ekpoma, a university town in Edo Central.

The defendants, many of them believed to be students of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, were brought before the court by the police on multiple counts linked to the unrest that erupted during a demonstration against what residents describe as a frightening surge in abductions and armed attacks in and around the community.

According to court proceedings monitored by local reporters, the 52 suspects were arraigned on allegations ranging from unlawful assembly and malicious damage to property to looting and acts of violence. After listening to submissions from the prosecution and defence, the presiding judge ordered that they be remanded in Ubiaja prison custody pending further hearing in the case.

The protest that led to their arrest began as a community outcry against insecurity. Residents and students had taken to the streets of Ekpoma to demand stronger action from security agencies and the state government over repeated incidents of kidnapping on major roads and within the town. Protesters said they were tired of living in fear, citing cases of students, traders and commuters allegedly abducted on their way to and from school, markets and neighbouring communities.

Eyewitnesses and community sources said the demonstration started peacefully, with youths marching through major streets, chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards calling for an end to kidnapping and banditry. However, the situation quickly degenerated, with reports of clashes, vandalism and destruction of property.

One of the most shocking incidents was the reported attack on the palace of the traditional ruler of the community. Videos widely circulated on social media showed crowds around the palace premises, with parts of the building and nearby structures visibly damaged. Other clips showed shops and vehicles that had been vandalised, as well as residents fleeing areas where the protest had turned chaotic.

The Edo State Police Command later announced that the protest had been hijacked by what it described as hoodlums who exploited the tension to unleash violence. In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, the command said the demonstration had strayed far from the bounds of a lawful protest.

“Regrettably, the protest was hijacked, and all the rules of peaceful protest were ignored, which led to incidents, including malicious damages, looting of property, vandalisation of shops, as well as a military personnel discharging firearms at a protester,” the statement read in part.

The police said operatives moved in to restore order after receiving distress calls from residents and business owners. According to the command, those who allegedly engaged in acts of violence, vandalism and looting were identified and arrested, while investigations were launched to track others believed to have participated in the destruction.

Security sources said the arrests were carried out in phases, with some suspects picked up at the protest scene and others later apprehended in their homes and hostels. Several of the defendants told journalists outside the courtroom that they were taken from their residences at night or in the early hours of the morning by security operatives and transported directly to the state police headquarters in Benin City before being charged to court.

Relatives of the accused, many of whom travelled from Ekpoma and surrounding communities, thronged the court premises on the day of arraignment. As the judge ordered that the 52 be remanded in Ubiaja Correctional Centre until the next adjourned date, emotions ran high among family members who had hoped the court would grant bail.

Tears flowed freely as parents and guardians struggled to reach their children and wards before they were herded into a Black Maria for the journey to Ubiaja. Some mothers clutched bottles of water, soft drinks and food packs, trying desperately to pass them through the crowd of security personnel. Others pressed small amounts of money into the hands of the detainees, fearing they might not see them again for weeks.

Outside the courtroom, some parents insisted that their children were innocent and had merely joined what they believed would be a peaceful protest to draw attention to the insecurity plaguing Ekpoma. They accused security agencies of indiscriminate arrests and called on the state government to intervene to ensure that only those genuinely involved in criminal acts are prosecuted.

Student groups and civil society actors have also begun to weigh in, arguing that while violence and destruction of property cannot be condoned, the underlying grievances that triggered the protest must not be ignored. They point to a pattern of rising insecurity in parts of Edo State, particularly along major highways and in semi-urban communities, where kidnappers and armed gangs have been reported to operate with increasing boldness.

Legal practitioners following the case say the charges against the 52 suspects could carry serious penalties if proven, especially those relating to arson, malicious damage and attacks on traditional institutions. However, they note that the circumstances of the protest, including the alleged shooting of a protester by a military personnel, raise broader questions about crowd control, the right to peaceful assembly and the conduct of security forces during civil unrest.

Human rights advocates are calling for a transparent investigation into all aspects of the incident, including the actions of both protesters and security operatives.