By joshua 
Release Our Son AIGBOGUN Family Appeals To Governor OKpebholo
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin city
The family of honourable Collins Agbogun have appealed to the Executive governor of Edo State, Senator Monday OKpebholo to
use his capacity as Chief Security Officer of the State, to intervene as to ensure strict compliance with the law and the immediate restoration of their son’s liberty, honourable Collins Agbogun.
They said their son Collins Agbogun was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on allegations that he organized and coordinated the said January 10, 2026 ekpoma protest.
After spending three days in DSS custody, Hon COLLINS AIGBOGUN was transferred to the Edo State Police Command, where he remains in detention as at today without access to medical care for his already failing health.
Addressing journalists in Benin city, the counsel to Agbogun, Barrister
Bright Iluobe, said we are compelled to make a brief and considered statement to the press and by extension the general public concerning the arrest and continued detention of our client in connection with matters arising from the public protest of January 10, 2026 in Ekpoma.
He stated that the protest was organized to address issues of insecurity and incessant kidnappings of students, residents and indigenes of Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.
We state clearly that the continued detention of our client raises grave constitutional and legal concerns. From our instructions and 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 the family is worried because 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 do not believe this to be the true position and we are confident that his Excellency, the Executive Governor of Edo State would not condone the unlawful or prolonged detention of any citizen without due process.
We must emphasize that this press briefing is not an invitation to try this matter in the media, nor is it intended to pre-empt 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.
“The purpose of this press conference is to place the facts before the Nigerian public and to respectfully call the attention of the Executive Governor of Edo State, in his capacity as Chief Security Officer of the State, to intervene to ensure strict compliance with the law and the immediate restoration of our client’s liberty.” He stated.
It is also a matter of public knowledge that persons who were physically present and directly involved in the Ekpoma protest have since been released upon the intervention of the Governor of Edo State. The continued detention of our client HON COLLINS AIGBOGUN who was verifiably in Benin City at the material time is therefore discriminatory, disproportionate, and legally unjustifiable.
Also speaking, a brother to Collins Agbogun, Tom Agbogun appealed to the governor, Senator Monday OKpebholo to temper Justice with Mercy. He said his brother Collins remains a loyal son to the governor.
On her part, Mrs Vivian Agbogun,
the wife of Honourable Collins Agbogun, who is nursing a two months old baby said things have become very difficult for her and the family.
Mrs Vivian Agbogun appealed to the governor Senator Monday OKpebholo to prevail on the Police to release her husband as she and the children can no longer feed since the arrest of her husband.
According to her, “as a father, think of my little kids ,my husband remains your son and will continue to be your son”. She pleaded.