The civil society community in Edo State has expressed relief and satisfaction following the release of two detained activists, Marxist campaigner Kola Edokpayi and Comrade Orako Ambel.
The pair had been held by the Department of State Services (DSS) in what activists described as an unlawful and arbitrary detention.
Their release was secured through a ruling by Edo State High Court 1, which granted them administrative bail.
The presiding judge reportedly questioned the justification for the continued detention of the activists, criticising the selective approach of security agencies that often target peaceful dissenters while criminal elements such as kidnappers and cultists operate with seeming impunity across the state.
Their release comes after several days of public protests and advocacy by civil society organisations demanding their immediate and unconditional freedom.
The demonstrators, made up of rights campaigners and community leaders, argued that the arrests were a direct attack on civic freedom and democratic expression.
In a statement jointly signed by Rev. David Ugolor and Barrister Abraham Oviawe, both of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Edo State, the group commended the judiciary for upholding the rule of law.
They described the bail as a victory for justice and a testament to the power of collective resistance.
The coalition further criticised the conduct of security agencies in the state, calling for greater transparency, accountability, and respect for constitutional rights.
It reiterated its commitment to defending civic space and ensuring that activists can speak truth to power without fear of repression.
As the activists return to their communities, civil society leaders have vowed to continue their campaign for a just and democratic society, where lawful dissent is protected and security institutions operate within the boundaries of the law.
