Students threaten protest over rising insecurity in Ogun schools

The National Association of Nigerian Students has given a 72-hour ultimatum to the Ogun State Government and security agencies. They want the release of five abducted students from Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade. They also demand the arrest of those responsible for the killing of a female student from D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, and action against the growing insecurity in the state's schools.

The association warned it would organize peaceful protests across the state if these demands are not met within 72 hours.

They also called on the state government to send a high-powered team to express condolences to the family of Ahmed Sekinat, the D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic student killed during a robbery. They want the government to visit another student who is currently receiving treatment for gunshot injuries at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta.

At a press conference on Wednesday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists secretariat in Abeokuta, the Secretary-General of NANS, Comrade Oladimeji Uthman, known as 'Dan Fodio,' said students in Ogun are living in fear. Kidnapping, armed robbery, cult violence, rape, and other crimes have made campuses unsafe.

Uthman was joined by student leaders, including Akinpelu Timothy, president of the Students’ Union at Gateway ICT Polytechnic, and Kehinde Bamgbose from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.

He said, 'The recent abduction of five students from Gateway ICT Polytechnic, the killing of a female student from D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, and ongoing armed robbery at Tai Solarin Federal University of Education, Ijebu-Ode, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, and Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Ijebu-Igbo show the worsening security situation in the state.

'For too long, students have lived in fear. The safety of lives and property on and near our campuses is heavily threatened by armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, cult violence, and other crimes. Students cannot move freely, attend lectures, or return to their hostels without fear of attack.'

Uthman also expressed disappointment that past attempts to meet with security agencies in Ogun State had failed. He said the agencies did not honor invitations from the students' body.

'It is very sad that despite the rising insecurity around off-campus hostels, the National Association of Nigerian Students wrote to all heads of security agencies in the state for a meeting to discuss real solutions. Sadly, these requests were ignored. This refusal to engage with the rightful representatives of Nigerian students has hindered genuine efforts to find solutions while students continue to face armed robbery, kidnapping, violent attacks, and loss of lives,' he said.

Uthman praised the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, and Governor Dapo Abiodun for sending an operational police aircraft to help with security in Ogun State. He said this would boost aerial surveillance, intelligence gathering, and quick response in the ongoing effort to rescue the abducted students.

Despite this, the students' body insisted the government and security agencies need to do more to protect students.

He said, 'So, NANS has given a 72-hour ultimatum to the Ogun State Government, Ogun State Police Command, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other security bodies to rescue the abducted students. They must arrest and prosecute those behind the murder of the D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic student, and bring all those who commit violent acts against students to justice.

'If these demands are not met within 72 hours, the national students’ body will have no choice but to start peaceful mass actions and statewide protests until justice is served and proper security is guaranteed for every student in Ogun State.'

To tackle this insecurity issue, NANS called for more security patrols around campuses, the creation of permanent security posts in vulnerable student areas, deployment of the Ogun State Anti-Violent Crime Team to schools, better cooperation among school authorities, communities, and security agencies, and forming an Ogun Security Agencies, Student Leaders Relations Forum.

Uthman described the planned protest as peaceful and lawful. He urged students' unions, labor organizations, civil society groups, and other stakeholders to support the fight against insecurity in schools.

Recently, insecurity has affected several schools in the state. An HND II marketing student from D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, was shot dead by armed robbers during a robbery in Eruku community on July 27. Another student was also shot and is still in treatment at FMC, Abeokuta.

Last Thursday, the Students’ Union of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, reported that five of their students were abducted from a private hostel in Ipara Remo.

The spokesperson for the state police command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed that they were aware of the incident that occurred late on Wednesday night, July 29, 2026. He said all tactical units have been activated to ensure the safe rescue of the victims.