The Nigeria Police Force has bowed to public pressure following the controversial arrest of students during a recent protest in Edo State.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, has confirmed that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has issued a direct order for the immediate release of “genuine students” arrested in the course of the protest.
Hundeyin disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking as a guest on Politics Today, a programme aired on Channels Television.
“Release Genuine Students” — IGP’s Clear Directive
According to Hundeyin, the IGP instructed the Commissioner of Police in Edo State to identify and release students who were legitimately part of the protest and not involved in criminal activity.
“The Inspector-General of Police has instructed the Commissioner of Police to release ‘genuine students’ arrested during the Edo protest,” Hundeyin said.
His statement comes amid growing criticism over alleged excessive force and indiscriminate arrests during the protest, particularly in Ekpoma.
Police Admit Tension but Defend Response
While acknowledging public distrust toward the police, Hundeyin insisted the situation has improved compared to previous years.
“There’s a lot of distrust, but the level of distrust is not as bad as it used to be because we’ve done a lot in engaging with people,” he said.
He explained that the police response in Ekpoma escalated because officers on the ground initially struggled to contain the situation.
Why Heavy Police Presence Was Deployed
Hundeyin revealed that when the protest began to get out of hand, reinforcements were called in, including:
- The Commissioner of Police, who personally traveled from Benin City to Ekpoma
- The Area Commander
- Several Divisional Police Officers (DPOs)
“That’s the standard practice all over the world. When a situation seems to be getting out of hand, you call for reinforcements, and that’s what we did,” he explained.
Police Call for Cooperation
Despite the controversy, the police spokesperson emphasized that the Force is committed to improving its relationship with citizens.
He urged Nigerians, especially young people, to work more closely with law enforcement, adding that the police are open to dialogue and accountability.
“We intend to work more closely with the people, and we call on the people to work more closely with us too,” Hundeyin concluded.
Why This Matters
The IGP’s intervention is being seen by many as a rare win for public accountability, especially amid growing concerns over protest policing and students’ rights.
As attention now shifts to how the Edo State Police Command will implement the directive, Nigerians are watching closely to see whether all innocent students will indeed regain their freedom — and whether this signals a more responsive police force going forward.
