Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Ogun State Government and security agencies, demanding the immediate rescue of five abducted students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, and the arrest of those responsible for the recent killing of a student of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori. The students' body warned that it would embark on sustained peaceful mass protests across Ogun State if its demands were not met within the stipulated period, citing a worsening security crisis that has left students living in constant fear of kidnapping, armed robbery, cult-related violence, rape, and other criminal activities.
The ultimatum was announced on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, during a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Secretariat in Abeokuta by the Secretary-General of NANS, Oladimeji Uthman, popularly known as "Dan Fodio." Uthman was joined by student leaders from various institutions, including the President of the Students' Union Government of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Akinpelu Timothy; Olabisi Onabanjo University Students' Union President, Kehinde Bamgbose; and Okunuga Opeyemi of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic. The NANS scribe lamented that students across Ogun tertiary institutions now live in fear because of persistent cases of kidnapping, armed robbery, cult violence, rape, and other criminal activities. "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," Uthman declared.
The recent incidents that triggered the ultimatum include the abduction of five students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic from a private hostel in Ipara Remo, Remo North Local Government Area, on the night of July 29, 2026, and the killing of Ahmed Sekinat, an HND II Marketing student of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, who was shot dead during a robbery attack in the Eruku community on July 27. Another student sustained gunshot injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta. Uthman noted that repeated robbery attacks around institutions such as Tai Solarin Federal University of Education, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, and Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic underscore the worsening security situation in the state. He stressed that previous attempts by the association to engage security agencies through strategic meetings yielded no result, alleging that the agencies ignored invitations extended by the students' body. "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," Uthman said.
While commending the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun for deploying an operational police aircraft to strengthen security operations in the state, Uthman insisted that more decisive action was needed. He called on 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 immediately rescue the abducted students, apprehend those responsible for the recent killing, and ensure all perpetrators of violent attacks against students are brought to justice. NANS also urged the state government to send a high-powered delegation to condole with the family of the slain student and visit the injured student receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre.
To address the growing insecurity, NANS recommended increased security patrols around campuses, the establishment of permanent security posts in high-risk student communities, the deployment of the Ogun State Anti-Violent Crime Team to tertiary institutions, stronger collaboration between school authorities, host communities and security agencies, and the creation of a security forum involving student leaders and law enforcement agencies. The students' body warned that failure to meet its demands within the stipulated 72 hours would trigger sustained peaceful mass protests across Ogun State until adequate security is guaranteed for students. The Ogun State Police Command had earlier announced the deployment of tactical teams to facilitate the safe rescue of the abducted students, but NANS has made it clear that it will not accept further delays or empty promises. As the clock ticks on the 72-hour ultimatum, the people of Ogun State and the wider Nigerian student community await decisive action from the authorities to end the reign of terror that has turned campuses and their surrounding communities into zones of fear and insecurity.
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