EKPOMA – The security situation at Ambrose Alli University (AAU) has reached a breaking point following the brazen abduction of four students in two separate incidents between April 4 and April 6, 2026.
The victims, identified as Daniel Scott (popularly known as Scozzy), a graduating Computer Science student; Marvellous Ogbemudia, a 500-level Engineering student; and their associates Obitto Cornelius and Divine Uwagbale, were reportedly seized by heavily armed men near their residence along the Victorio Hotel Street axis.
Sources within the university community confirm to Standarddailypress.com that the kidnappers have established contact with the families, demanding a staggering N250 million ransom.
The abductors have reportedly issued a chilling ultimatum, threatening to execute one of the students if the payment is not delivered immediately.
A Campus Under Siege
The abductions have sent shockwaves through the institution, which was once considered a peaceful academic haven. Students who spoke on condition of anonymity described an atmosphere of “total paralysis,” alleging that both the university administration and state security apparatus have failed to provide even basic protection for those living off-campus.
The crisis comes exactly six months into the tenure of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Eunice Eboserehimen Omonzejie. Despite her promises of reform upon assuming office, critics argue that the university is currently witnessing an unprecedented administrative and security decay.
Government Distracted by 2027 Ambitions
The surge in criminality has sparked fierce criticism of the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo. Stakeholders and rights advocates in Ekpoma have accused the Governor of abandoning altruistic governance in favor of early political maneuvering.
Reports suggest that the state’s executive focus has shifted heavily toward mobilizing a projected “3 million votes” for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid. Observers note that while the Governor remains preoccupied with these futuristic political targets, the immediate safety of his constituents—particularly students in Esan West—has been relegated to the background.
Growing Outrage
The latest kidnappings follow a pattern of rising insecurity that led to massive student protests earlier this year. Rather than addressing the root causes of the terror, the state government has previously been accused of high-handedness, including the arrest and remand of student activists.
”We are living in fear while our leaders are chasing 2027,” one student leader lamented. “Scozzy was about to graduate; Marvellous is in his final year of Engineering. Their lives are worth more than any political calculation, Standarddailypress.com was told.”
As of press time, the Edo State Police Command has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the specific steps being taken to rescue the four students.
Meanwhile, the families of the victims remain in a state of agony, grappling with a ransom demand that is far beyond the reach of average Nigerian households.