NANS demands Ogun deputy gov’s apology over alleged students shooting

The National Association of Nigerian Students, on Thursday, issued the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele, a 24-hour ultimatum to apologise for the alleged shooting at students by the security operatives in her convoy.

The Chairman, NANS, Ogun Joint Campus Committee, Adeyanju Francis, who handed out the ultimatum during a press briefing in Abeokuta, said should the deputy governor fail to apologise, the state should expect a mass protest by students.

Protesting students of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta and the security operatives attached to the deputy governor’s convoy had clashed on Wednesday in the  Oke Ilewo area, with the two sides trading blame.

While, the government, in a statement by Governor Dapo Abiodun’s Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, accused the students of attacking the deputy governor’s convoy unprovoked, the students, on the other hand, alleged that the security men fired gunshots at them.

Weighing in on Thursday, the NANS Chairman took sides with the students, describing the state government’s account of the incident as inaccurate and false.

Adeyanju said the students, who were protesting an alleged hike in tuition fees and the delay in NYSC mobilisation, were peaceful until they were allegedly attacked by the deputy governor’s security details.

The NANS leader described the government’s account as “preposterous and a deliberate attempt to give the dog a bad name in order to hang it”

 Adeyanju said, “The students, who were on their way to the Governor’s Office in Oke Mosan, to present their grievances, met the convoy of the deputy governor at Oke Ilewo and never surged towards her.

“Rather, they were singing and chanting the Aluta songs to let the deputy governor also know their predicament.

“Alas! The show of love and respect for the deputy governor by the students was misconstrued by the overzealous and trigger-happy security in her convoy, who instead of observing the situation properly, decided to open fire on the defenceless students.

“In fact, the first shot fired grazed the arm of a NANS leader, while others scampered for safety.

“Having realised their folly, however, the convoy quickly made a U-turn. Nevertheless, gunshots continued to rend the air. It was the God Almighty who protected the students from lethal assault by these security operatives.

“We have video evidence and tell-tale signs to back our assertions. Onlookers who witnessed the event at Oke Ilewo yesterday can also testify to this.

“In fact, some of the vehicles in the convoy were damaged as they hit one another when the drivers were trying to make a detour after the security details fired volleys of live bullets at the students.”

He said the government must apologise or face consequences.

 “We hereby, demand an apology from the deputy governor as well as retraction of falsehood hewn against the NANS, by her office, within 24 hours.

“Failure to comply with our demands, the NANS in Ogun State will mobilise en masse, students across the six zones of the apex student body and march in protest against the injustice, unwarranted and unprovoked attacks on students on peaceful protest, by the convoy of the deputy governor,” Adeyanju said.

In its statement on Wednesday, the government said the students were violent and that the deputy government escaped attack by the whiskers.

Akinmade said the protesting students blocked the convoy of the deputy governor, who was on her way to represent the governor at the reception marking this year 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day at 35 Artillery Brigade Alamala, Abeokuta.

Akinmade said, “The irate protesting MAPOLY students were armed with sticks and other dangerous projectiles. All efforts to allow the convoy to pass proved abortive as immediately the students realised it was the Deputy Governor, they became even more restive and rushed to attack her convoy with the aim of demobilising it, despite her security operatives as well as other police officers on the ground persuading them to stay calm and allow the convoy pass.”