Reported by: Ijeoma G | 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 and prosecution of those responsible for the killing of a female student of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori. The students' body warned that it would embark on sustained peaceful mass protests across the state if its demands were not met within the stipulated period, citing what it described as a persistent and alarming wave of insecurity that has left students across Ogun State terrified and unable to pursue their academic activities in peace. The ultimatum was issued on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, during a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Abeokuta.
Speaking at the press conference, the Secretary-General of NANS, Comrade Oladimeji Uthman, popularly known as "Dan Fodio," said students across Ogun State's tertiary institutions now live in fear because of persistent cases of kidnapping, armed robbery, cult-related violence, rape, and other criminal activities. Uthman, who was joined by student leaders from various institutions, including the Students' Union Government President of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Akinpelu Timothy; his counterpart from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Kehinde Bamgbose; and Okunuga Opeyemi of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, among others, lamented that students can no longer move freely, attend lectures, or return to their hostels without fear of attack. "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," 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 treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta. Uthman noted that 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.
The NANS scribe also expressed disappointment over the failure of security agencies to engage with the students' body despite previous attempts to hold strategic meetings to discuss practical and lasting solutions to the crisis. "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. He described the refusal to engage with the legitimate representatives of Nigerian students as a frustration of genuine efforts aimed at finding collaborative solutions while students continue to suffer armed robbery attacks, kidnappings, violent assaults, and loss of lives.
While commending the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun for deploying an operational police aircraft to support security operations in the state, Uthman insisted that more decisive action was needed. He said the deployment would no doubt help to strengthen aerial surveillance, intelligence gathering, and rapid response efforts in the ongoing operation to rescue the abducted students. However, he stressed that the government and security agencies must do more to safeguard students.
NANS demanded that the Ogun State Government send a high-powered delegation to condole with the family of the slain student, Ahmed Sekinat, and visit the injured student currently receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta. The students' body also called for the deployment of the Ogun State Anti-Violent Crime Team to all tertiary institutions and student communities across the state, increased security patrols around campuses, and the establishment of permanent security posts in high-risk student residential areas. Additionally, NANS called for stronger collaboration among school authorities, host communities, security agencies, and student leaders to improve campus safety.
Uthman warned that failure to meet these demands within the stipulated 72 hours would 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. He called on Students' Union Governments, staff unions in tertiary institutions, the Nigeria Labour Congress, and civil society organisations to join and support the planned peaceful demonstration if the ultimatum expires without compliance. The Ogun State Police Command had earlier announced the deployment of tactical teams and intelligence assets to facilitate the rescue of the abducted students, but NANS has made it clear that it will not accept further delays or empty promises.
As the 72-hour countdown continues, 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. For the thousands of students who have been living in constant fear, the ultimatum represents a final chance for the government to demonstrate its commitment to their safety and security before they are forced to take to the streets in protest.
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