Nigeria’s police leadership has directed that students detained during a recent protest in Edo State be freed, as the force moves to address public concerns over the handling of the incident.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed on Tuesday that the Inspector-General of Police had instructed the Commissioner of Police in Edo to release individuals identified as bona fide students among those arrested during the protest.
Speaking during a national television interview, Hundeyin said the police had increased engagement efforts to rebuild public trust, noting that communication with communities had improved compared with previous years. He explained that the police response in Ekpoma involved the deployment of reinforcements after officers on the ground assessed that the situation was escalating.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police travelled from Benin City to Ekpoma, while senior officers, including the Area Commander and several Divisional Police Officers, were present to manage the situation. Hundeyin said such deployment aligns with standard policing practice when local formations require additional support.
He added that the police intend to strengthen collaboration with members of the public and encouraged continued cooperation between communities and law enforcement agencies.
