Just-In: Benue Assembly Speaker demands release of arrested protesters

The Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Aondona Dajoh, has ordered the immediate and unconditional release of all individuals detained during recent protests held across the state.

His directive came during an emergency plenary session convened on Tuesday following widespread public outcry over the arrest of youths who had taken to the streets demanding urgent government intervention on worsening security challenges in different parts of Benue.

While addressing lawmakers, Speaker Dajoh reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to democratic principles and the rights of citizens to peacefully express their concerns. “Peaceful protest is a constitutional right,” he stated. “No one should be punished for exercising their voice in a democratic society.”

His pronouncement drew applause from members of the Assembly and has since been commended by civil rights advocates as a courageous defence of civil liberties in the state.

Dajoh also urged security agencies to respect the rights of peaceful protesters and called for future engagements with the public to be conducted with professionalism and restraint. He assured that the Assembly would investigate the circumstances that led to the arrests and engage relevant authorities to prevent a repeat of such incidents.