NANS issues 72-hour rescue ultimatum to Ogun over abducted students

The National Association of Nigerian Students has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Ogun State Government and security agencies over the growing insecurity affecting students across tertiary institutions in the state.

The association demanded the immediate rescue of five students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, who were abducted, the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the killing of a student of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, and stronger measures to protect students.

The demands were presented during a press briefing held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Secretariat in Abeokuta by NANS Secretary-General, Oladimeji Uthman, alongside student union leaders from several higher institutions in Ogun State.

According to the association, students now live in fear because of repeated incidents of kidnapping, armed robbery, rape, cult-related attacks and other violent crimes around campuses and off-campus hostels. It said many students are no longer able to attend lectures or move freely without worrying about their safety.

NANS stated that it had previously sought meetings with security agencies in the state to discuss practical ways of addressing the security challenges but claimed that its requests were ignored. The association said the lack of engagement had made it more difficult to find lasting solutions while attacks on students continued.

The students’ body, however, commended the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, for deploying an operational police aircraft to support security operations. It said the move could improve surveillance, intelligence gathering and rescue operations but added that more action was still needed.

Apart from demanding the rescue of the abducted students and the arrest of those linked to the recent murder, NANS urged the Ogun State Government to send a delegation to visit the family of the slain student, Ahmed Sekinat, and another student receiving treatment for gunshot injuries at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta.

The association also called for regular security patrols around tertiary institutions, the establishment of permanent security posts in vulnerable student communities, the deployment of the Ogun State Anti-Violent Crime Team to campuses, stronger cooperation between school authorities, host communities and security agencies, and the creation of a platform for regular engagement between student leaders and security agencies.

NANS warned that if its demands are not met within the 72-hour deadline, it will begin sustained peaceful protests across Ogun State until those responsible are brought to justice and students are guaranteed adequate security.

The ultimatum follows recent security incidents involving students in the state. An HND II Marketing student of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic was shot dead during a robbery attack in the Eruku community, while another student suffered gunshot injuries and is receiving treatment. In a separate incident, five students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic were abducted from a private hostel in Ipara Remo.

The Ogun State Police Command has already confirmed that tactical units have been deployed to rescue the abducted students and track down those responsible for the attack.