The family of Collins Aigbogun, a former Special Adviser on Youth Mobilisation to Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, on Tuesday expressed deep concern over his continued detention following his arrest in connection with an anti-kidnapping protest in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area.

Aigbogun was taken into custody on January 10, after the protest escalated into violence. While other participants have since been released, the family said he remains in police custody despite being accused only of having knowledge of the protest.

Speaking at a press briefing in Benin, Aigbogun’s brother and lawyer, Bright Iluobe, said the detention raises serious constitutional and legal concerns.

“We state clearly that the continued detention of our client raises grave constitutional and legal concerns.

From our investigations, this arrest appears to be part of a recurring pattern of harassment, calculated to diminish our client’s political influence and silence his legitimate civic engagement,” Iluobe said.

He added, “This press briefing is not an invitation to try this matter in the media, nor is it intended to preempt the course of any investigation. Rather, it is a measured intervention prompted by the well-settled principle that where liberty is restrained, the law must speak clearly and act promptly.”

Iluobe also addressed reports linking the governor to Aigbogun’s detention, stressing that they did not believe the allegations to be true.

“We are particularly concerned by reports alleging that certain individuals are invoking the name of the Executive Governor of Edo State as being responsible for our client’s ordeal. We are confident that His Excellency would not condone the unlawful or prolonged detention of any citizen without due process,” he said.

Aigbogun’s wife, Vivian, spoke of the emotional and psychological toll the detention has had on her family, particularly their two-month-old baby.

“I am appealing to the governor, who is our father, to see my husband as a son and call for his release. I was called on the phone that my husband had been arrested; I could not see him until he was transferred to the police station. All those arrested regarding the protest have been released. I am a nursing mother and I am struggling to cope with this situation,” she said.

His elder brother, Tom Aigbogun, said the prolonged detention has also affected their elderly mother.

The incident stems from a protest on January 10, when angry residents of Ekpoma demonstrated against the killing of a youth by suspected kidnappers. Residents blocked the town’s entry and exit points, confronting security officials over the need to tackle insecurity.

A video circulating on social media showed the corpse of the deceased paraded through the community, while protesters set tyres ablaze, forcing motorists to turn back. The protest later escalated into a riot, prompting Governor Okpebholo, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, and other officials to relocate to the town before normalcy was restored.

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has said that access to affordable housing is critical to improving the welfare, morale and productivity of officers of the Nigeria Police Force.

According to the IGP, providing sustainable and affordable housing for police personnel remains a priority under his leadership, noting that officers who are assured of decent living conditions are better motivated to carry out their constitutional duties.

A statement released on Wednesday by the Force Spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, said Egbetokun stated this on Tuesday while receiving the Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Shehu Osidi, and his management team during a courtesy visit to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

He described the visit as timely, stressing that stronger institutional partnerships between the Police Force and key housing agencies such as FMBN are essential to achieving long-term welfare goals for serving officers and retirees.

“IGP Egbetokun welcomed the FMBN leadership, describing the visit as timely and a significant step toward elevating the partnership between both organisations. He noted that such institutional alliances are vital to achieving the Force’s objective of providing sustainable housing solutions for its workforce.

IGP Egbetokun further reaffirmed that the welfare of all police personnel remains a top priority under his leadership. He stressed that providing affordable housing is essential to boosting the morale of officers who continually put their lives on the line in the service of the nation.

“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to fostering strategic partnerships that ensure the dignity and well-being of its officers, both during and after their dedicated service to the country, ” the statement partly read.

Earlier, the Managing Director of FMBN, Osidi, commended the Nigeria Police Force for its cooperation, describing it as one of the Bank’s most strategic institutional partners.

He called for deeper collaboration to ensure that police personnel can access mortgage and housing benefits without administrative bottlenecks or disputes.

Osidi also reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to expanding housing access for police officers through tailored mortgage products and improved service delivery.

The welfare of police personnel, particularly access to affordable housing, has remained a longstanding challenge within the Nigeria Police Force, with many officers relying on rented accommodation throughout their service years.

In recent years, the Force has intensified efforts to improve staff welfare through partnerships with key institutions, including the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, to expand access to mortgage financing and home ownership.