Edo Court Remands Ekpoma Protesters in Custody
The Edo State High Court sitting as Criminal Court 2 has ordered the remand of several youths arrested during a recent protest in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of the state.
The court directed that the protesters be held at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre for a period of 14 days pending further proceedings. Emotional scenes played out at the court premises as relatives of the accused wept while the youths were taken into a waiting vehicle for transfer to the correctional facility.
The protesters were arrested following a demonstration held last weekend by youths who took to the streets to express their anger over rising cases of kidnapping and growing insecurity in the area. The protest gained widespread attention after videos surfaced online showing residents marching through the town, while some individuals suspected to be cattle breeders reportedly fled a local market during the unrest.
According to the police, the protest started peacefully but was later taken over by miscreants, leading to acts of vandalism and looting of property. The situation reportedly escalated further when a military personnel allegedly fired shots that injured one of the protesters.
Security agencies later moved in to restore order, leading to the arrest of several participants now facing investigation. The case has been adjourned as authorities continue to probe the circumstances surrounding the protest and the alleged breakdown of law and order.
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