The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has firmly rejected allegations that police officers arrested peaceful protesters during the recent demonstration in Ekpoma, Edo State, insisting that those taken into custody were involved in criminal acts rather than lawful protest.
According to the police chief, the 52 individuals arrested during the protest were not targeted for exercising their right to peaceful assembly. Instead, he said they were apprehended based on reports that they participated in looting, destruction of property, and other violent activities that occurred under the guise of a protest.
The arrests had sparked widespread criticism and emotional reactions, particularly from parents and guardians of the suspects, many of whom are students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma. Public concern intensified after an Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City ordered that the suspects be remanded at the Ubiaja Prisons, a development that fueled accusations that the police were suppressing peaceful dissent.
Addressing the controversy during an appearance on Crime Buster with Desmond, episode six, aired over the weekend, Egbetokun said the Nigeria Police Force had repeatedly faced what he described as misleading narratives whenever protests degenerated into violence. He explained that it had become common for criminal acts committed during demonstrations to be downplayed, while the police were accused of victimising peaceful protesters.
The IGP expressed frustration that even in extreme cases—where police facilities were attacked, officers killed, and weapons stolen—the blame was often shifted to the police. According to him, such narratives undermine public understanding of the difference between lawful protest and criminal conduct.
Reaffirming the police’s position, Egbetokun stressed that the Nigeria Police Force has no opposition to peaceful protests and remains committed to protecting citizens who express their grievances lawfully. He stated clearly that participating in a peaceful demonstration does not make anyone a target of law enforcement.
He further assured Nigerians that the police would continue to safeguard protesters who act within the bounds of the law, emphasizing that peaceful protest poses no threat or challenge to the police. In his words, the real concern arises when individuals exploit protests as an opportunity to engage in violence, destroy public or private property, or loot businesses.
Specifically addressing the Ekpoma incident, Egbetokun said the arrests were based on reports indicating that some participants vandalized shops and attacked the palace of the Enogie of Ekpoma during the protest. He maintained that those detained were linked to these acts and not to peaceful protest activities, dismissing claims of a clampdown on lawful demonstrators as inaccurate.
The protest in question took place on January 10 in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area, where residents and students marched through major roads to express outrage over the growing cases of kidnapping in the area. Demonstrators carried placards and called on the government to take urgent action to address insecurity. However, the protest reportedly turned violent, resulting in property damage and looting.
Following the incident, a Federal High Court in Edo State remanded 52 suspects over allegations of malicious damage and armed robbery, adjourning the case to February 26 for hearing and ordering their detention at the Ubiaja Prisons.
Amid mounting public pressure and intervention by the Edo State Government, the Ambrose Alli University students arrested in connection with the protest were later released. Their release came on the directive of Governor Monday Okpebholo, bringing relief to their families and the university community.
Despite the release, the incident has reignited national debate over the conduct of protests, the limits of lawful assembly, and the role of security agencies in managing public demonstrations, as Nigerians continue to call for a balance between protecting civic freedoms and maintaining public order.
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