Former Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential aspirant and Edo State governorship candidate, Patience Ndidi Ofure-Key, has raised concerns over reports that students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU) were allegedly arrested following weekend anti-kidnapping protests in Ekpoma.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Benin City on Monday, January 12, Ndidi-Key described the alleged raids on student hostels as intimidation rather than genuine public safety measures.

“Democracy cannot restore calm by threatening citizens or treating them as enemies. Arresting young people demanding their fundamental right to live safely undermines trust in governance,” she said.

She urged Edo State authorities, security agencies, AAU management, and community leaders to release innocent detainees and focus on protecting residents from kidnappers. Ndidi-Key emphasized that peaceful protest is not a crime and warned that responding to legitimate safety concerns with harassment or indiscriminate arrests is counterproductive.

Highlighting the fear gripping the university community, she noted:

“Parents fear sleeping, students fear attending classes, and communities feel deserted, creating a volatile atmosphere no responsible government should ignore.”

She called on the government to implement an urgent, transparent security action plan with measurable outcomes, emergency reporting systems, hotspot protection, joint campus-community patrols, and public accountability for security spending. Ndidi-Key also questioned the recurring “security votes” amid persistent insecurity, insisting that citizens deserve clear reporting on their use and results.

While condemning violence and lawlessness, she acknowledged that citizens’ frustration is understandable when peaceful appeals for safety are ignored. She urged students and residents to avoid allowing criminals to hijack protests, while insisting that protection, justice, and accountability must take priority over mass arrests.

“Government duty is non-negotiable. Edo State must not suppress citizens’ cries for safety but address the insecurity that drives communities to desperation,” Ndidi-Key concluded.