A Federal Excessive Courtroom in Edo State has ordered the remand of 52 people accused of vandalism and armed theft throughout a protest in opposition to kidnapping in Ekpoma, Esan West LGA.
The defendants, amongst them college students of Ambrose Alli College (AAU), had been arrested after a Saturday rally escalated into violence, throughout which a number of retailers and properties had been reportedly looted and destroyed.
Presiding decide William Aziegbemi, whereas ruling on Monday, acknowledged that the matter couldn’t be heard in his court docket as a consequence of lack of jurisdiction.
He instructed defence counsel to submit bail functions on the Ubiaja Excessive Courtroom.
Aziegbemi set February 26 because the listening to date and directed that every one suspects be transferred to the Ubiaja Correctional Centre pending additional proceedings.
Residents of Ekpoma and close by communities had earlier taken to the streets to decry a spike in kidnapping instances, marching with placards and demanding pressing authorities motion.
Nonetheless, the Edo State Police Command mentioned the peaceable march was overtaken by felony parts, leading to “malicious harm, looting, and vandalisation of property”.
Among the many affected locations was the palace of Zaiki Anthony Abumere II, the Onojie of Ekpoma, which was reportedly attacked—an incident the state governor, Monday Okpebholo, condemned.
Safety businesses, together with the police and navy, had been deployed to revive calm because the unrest unfold.
Through the chaos, a soldier allegedly fired a shot that injured 32-year-old protester Osagie Abraham.
Based on police reviews, the injured man is at present receiving therapy at a medical facility in Ekpoma, and navy authorities have been notified for acceptable disciplinary motion.
The command famous that whereas the correct to protest is recognised, it have to be exercised peacefully and “inside the legislation”.
Police additional assured residents that safety measures are being intensified to fight kidnapping and related crimes throughout the state.
The protest adopted a current spike in abductions, together with the killing of medical practitioners within the state.