The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Monday raised serious concerns over the alleged activities of a controversial police unit known as the Dragon Squad, accusing its operatives of harassing, detaining, and extorting students and residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
In a statement signed by its National President, Ladoja Olushola, NANS described the operations of the squad as “nefarious and atrocious,” adding that its tactics mirror the brutality of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The squad, reportedly led by one DSP Akeem Adeyemi and operating from a base in Laderin Estate, is said to have been formed under the directive of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos. According to NANS, the unit has become infamous for its Gestapo-style operations targeting young people under the guise of apprehending internet fraudsters, popularly known as “Yahoo Boys.”
“The office in Laderin Estate in Abeokuta has a holding cell where innocent people are being detained for up to a month without being charged to court. No victim has come out of the detention without tales of horror, extortion, and intimidation,” Olushola stated.
He further alleged that the squad has become a tool in the hands of land grabbers, aiding the forceful takeover of lands in communities such as Ita Oshin and Oke Ata.
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Despite repeated complaints to the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, NANS said the squad continues to operate unchecked, with the squad leader allegedly claiming immunity from state authority due to his supposed direct mandate from the AIG Zone 2.
NANS warned that it will not hesitate to mobilize students for mass protests if immediate steps are not taken to dismantle the unit. Protest actions are scheduled to begin on Wednesday at the Zone 2 Police Command in Lagos, followed by a protest march to the Inspector General of Police’s office, the National Assembly, and other national institutions in Abuja next Monday.
“We will not sit idle while our members and other innocent Nigerians are subjected to unlawful detention and extortion,” Olushola declared, calling on the IGP and the Police Service Commission to take urgent action.
NANS reiterated its commitment to upholding the law while defending the rights and dignity of Nigerian students against any form of security agency excesses.