The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has given the Ogun State Government and security agencies a 72-hour deadline to rescue five abducted students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, arrest those responsible for the killing of a female student of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, and tackle the worsening security situation around tertiary institutions across the state.
The association warned that it would begin peaceful statewide protests if the authorities fail to meet its demands within the stipulated period.
NANS also urged the Ogun State Government to send a high-powered delegation to sympathise with the family of Ahmed Sekinat, the D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic student who was killed during a robbery attack, and visit another student who is receiving treatment for gunshot wounds at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta.
The demands were presented on Wednesday during a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Abeokuta by the Secretary-General of NANS, Comrade Oladimeji Uthman, popularly known as “Dan Fodio.”
Student leaders who attended the briefing included the Students’ Union Government President of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, Akinpelu Timothy; Olabisi Onabanjo University Students’ Union President, Kehinde Bamgbose; and Okunuga Opeyemi of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, among others.
Addressing journalists, Uthman expressed concern over the growing insecurity facing students in Ogun State, saying incidents of kidnapping, armed robbery, rape, cult violence and other crimes had left many students living in fear.
Uthman said, “The recent abduction of five students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, the killing of a female student of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, and repeated armed robbery attacks around Tai Solarin Federal University of Education, Ijebu-Ode; Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye; Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro; and Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Ijebu-Igbo, underscore the worsening security situation in the state.
“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 also criticised security agencies for allegedly ignoring previous requests by NANS for dialogue on addressing insecurity around tertiary institutions.
“It is deeply regrettable that despite the growing insecurity across off-campus hostels in our tertiary institutions, the National Association of Nigerian Students wrote to all heads of security agencies in the state requesting a strategic meeting to discuss practical and lasting solutions.
“Regrettably, these requests were not honoured. This refusal to engage with the legitimate representatives of Nigerian students has frustrated genuine efforts aimed at finding collaborative solutions while students continue to suffer armed robbery attacks, kidnappings, violent assaults, and loss of lives,” he said.
Despite the criticism, Uthman commended the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, and Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, for deploying an operational police aircraft to strengthen security operations in the state, expressing confidence that the move would enhance aerial surveillance, intelligence gathering and rescue operations.
However, he maintained that more decisive action was required to guarantee the safety of students.
He said, “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.
“Failure to meet these demands within the stipulated 72 hours will leave the national students’ body with no option but to commence sustained peaceful mass actions and statewide protests until justice is served and adequate security is guaranteed for every student in 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 among school authorities, host communities and security agencies, as well as the establishment of an Ogun Security Agencies–Student Leaders Relations Forum.
Uthman described the planned protests as peaceful and lawful, urging students’ unions, labour organisations, civil society groups and other stakeholders to support efforts aimed at ending insecurity in the state’s tertiary institutions.
Recent security incidents have heightened concerns across Ogun’s higher institutions. On July 27, an HND II Marketing student of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, was reportedly killed by armed robbers during an attack at Eruku community, while another student sustained gunshot injuries and remains on admission at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta.
In a separate incident, the Students’ Union of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, announced last Thursday that five students of the institution had been abducted from a private hostel in Ipara Remo, Remo North Local Government Area.
The Ogun State Police Command, through its spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed awareness of the abduction, stating that the incident occurred late on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, and that tactical units had been mobilised to secure the victims’ safe release.