Growing insecurity around tertiary institutions in Ogun State has sparked fresh concerns, with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) giving the state government and security agencies a 72-hour ultimatum to rescue five abducted students and improve the safety of students across the state.
The association warned that it would embark on peaceful statewide protests if its demands were not met within the stipulated period.
NANS is demanding the immediate rescue of five students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the killing of Ahmed Sekinat, a student of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, and stronger measures to tackle the rising wave of insecurity affecting tertiary institutions in Ogun State.
The students’ body also urged the Ogun State Government to send a high-powered delegation to condole with the family of the deceased student and visit another student currently receiving treatment for gunshot injuries at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta.
Speaking during a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Abeokuta on Wednesday, NANS Secretary-General, Comrade Oladimeji Uthman, popularly known as Dan Fodio, said many students now live in fear because of persistent cases of kidnapping, armed robbery, cult-related violence, rape and other criminal activities.
Student leaders from Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, and D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, were also present at the briefing.
Uthman said the recent abduction of five students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic and the killing of a student of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic highlight the worsening security situation around higher institutions in the state.
He added that students around Tai Solarin Federal University of Education, Ijebu-Ode, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, and Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Ijebu-Igbo, have also experienced repeated armed robbery attacks.
“For far too long, students have continued to live in fear. The safety of lives and property on and around our campuses has been grossly threatened by armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, cult-related violence and other criminal activities. Students can no longer move freely, attend lectures or return to their hostels without fear of attack,” he said.
The NANS secretary-general also expressed disappointment that previous attempts by the association to engage security agencies through strategic meetings yielded no result.
According to him, invitations sent to relevant security agencies to discuss practical solutions to the growing insecurity were not honoured.
Despite the concerns, Uthman commended the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, and Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, for deploying an operational police aircraft to support security operations in the state, describing the move as a step toward strengthening surveillance and rescue efforts.
However, he insisted that more action is needed to protect students.
“Consequently, NANS issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Ogun State Government, the Ogun State Police Command, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other relevant security agencies to rescue the abducted students, arrest and prosecute those responsible for the murder of the D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic student, and bring all perpetrators of violent attacks against students to justice,” he said.
He warned that failure to meet the demands would leave the association with no option but to begin sustained peaceful protests across Ogun State.
To improve security, NANS called for increased patrols around campuses, permanent security posts in vulnerable student communities, the deployment of the Ogun State Anti-Violent Crime Team to tertiary institutions, stronger collaboration between school authorities and security agencies, and the establishment of an Ogun Security Agencies–Student Leaders Relations Forum.
The ultimatum follows a series of security incidents in the state. On July 27, Ahmed Sekinat, an HND II Marketing student of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, was reportedly shot dead during a robbery attack at Eruku community, while another student sustained gunshot injuries and is receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta.
Last week, the Students’ Union of Gateway ICT Polytechnic also announced the abduction of five students from a private hostel in Ipara Remo.
The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed the abduction, stating that tactical units have been activated to ensure the safe rescue of the victims.
As concerns over student safety continue to grow, many students are hoping for swift action from the government and security agencies to restore confidence and ensure campuses remain safe places for learning.
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