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

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Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun

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The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Ogun State Government to ensure the rescue of abducted students of the Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade.

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Secretary-General of NANS, Oladimeji Uthman, who stated this at a news conference in Abeokuta on Wednesday, also called for the prosecution of those responsible for killing a student of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori.

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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sekinat Ahmed, an HND II student of DS Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, was killed during a robbery attack at Eruku community on July 27.

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Uthman warned that the association would embark on a statewide protest if its demands were not met within the stipulated 72-hour deadline.

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Student leaders from Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, Olabisi Onabanjo University and D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori attended the briefing alongside other union representatives.

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He said recent kidnappings, robberies, and violent attacks do not reflect well on security around tertiary institutions across the state.

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“Failure to meet these demands within the stipulated 72 hours will leave the national students’ body with no option but to commence a sustained peaceful mass actions and statewide protest.

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“This will continue until justice is served and adequate security is guaranteed for every student in Ogun state,” he said.

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Uthman commended the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, and Gov. Dapo Abiodun for deploying an operational police aircraft to strengthen security.

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He expressed hope that the aircraft would enhance surveillance, intelligence gathering and rescue operations for the abducted students.

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The student leader demanded increased security patrols, permanent security posts and deployment of the Ogun Anti-Violent Crime Team to vulnerable campuses.

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He sought stronger collaboration among schools, host communities, security agencies and student leaders to improve campus safety.

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NAN also reports that the police command in the state had on Thursday in a statement said that the command was intensifying rescue operations following the abduction.

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The command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the police and other security agencies had launched a coordinated response after receiving a distress report.

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He stated that tactical teams and intelligence assets had been deployed to facilitate the safe rescue of the victims and apprehend those responsible.

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