NANS demands apology from Ogun deputy governor after clash involving convoy

On Thursday, the Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ogun Joint Campus Committee, Adeyanju Francis, called on Governor Dapo Abiodun to investigate the reported shooting of protesting students from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta by security personnel in the convoy of Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele.

The student leaders also demanded an apology from the deputy governor within 24 hours.

In a press briefing held on Thursday at the school gate, Adeyanju stated that the statement issued by the Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, on Wednesday about the incident was false and misleading.

The students’ leader criticized the claim that the peaceful protesters attacked the deputy governor’s convoy, calling it “preposterous and a deliberate attempt to give the dog a bad name to hang it.”

He stated that, contrary to the deputy governor’s office’s claims, the peaceful protesters did not attack the convoy with cudgels and other dangerous weapons. Instead, it was the security personnel in the convoy who opened fire on the students.

Adeyanju provided further details, saying, “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.”

He added, “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.”

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

“Having realized 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.”

The student body has demanded an unreserved apology from the deputy governor within the next 24 hours, along with a retraction of the false claims made against the students.

The students, rejecting the false portrayal of violence, said, “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.”

They warned that failure to meet their demands would lead to the mobilization of students from across the six zones of the body to protest against the injustice and unwarranted attack on the peaceful protesters by the deputy governor’s convoy.

The students, who were reportedly protesting the increase in school fees and the dissolution of the Students Union Government, were said to have allegedly attacked the Deputy Governor’s convoy at OPIC, Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta, on Wednesday.

This was confirmed in a statement by the Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, on Wednesday.

Akinmade explained that the Deputy Governor was en route to represent the governor at the 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day reception at the 35 Artillery Brigade Alamala Abeokuta when the students intercepted her convoy at the OPIC area, Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta.

He further stated, “The irate protesting MAPOLY students, were armed with Sticks and other dangerous projectiles.”

He added, “All efforts to allow the convoy pass proved abortive as immediately the students realized it was the Deputy Governor, they became even more restive and rushed to attack her convoy to demobilise it, despite her security operatives as well as other police officers on grounds persuasion to stay calm and allow the convoy pass.”