The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has denied claims that two students were arrested during a protest against the visit of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Wike was on campus to deliver a lecture titled “Nigeria of Our Dreams” at the university’s Oduduwa Hall. During the event, two students Oladepo Joshua and Ejike Kelechi reportedly displayed placards demanding compensation for victims of demolitions linked to the minister’s policies.
A video published by PUNCH Online showed the students being removed from the venue by security personnel while Wike was still speaking.
Sources within the university confirmed that the students were taken to the school’s security unit, known as “Floor 0” in the Senate Building. According to a student witness, identified as Gift, there were initial attempts to remove them from campus entirely, but university security intervened to prevent it.
Reacting to the incident, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, clarified that the students were not arrested but were escorted out to prevent potential violence.
“Everyone has the right to protest, but a small group should not disrupt an event being enjoyed by many,” Olarewaju said. “They were removed because their fellow students began confronting them, and we wanted to avoid any escalation.”
Olarewaju, who also anchored the event, emphasized that the action was taken to protect the protesting students from possible harm.
“It was just two individuals interrupting a well-received programme. They were taken out for their own safety,” he added.
However, the Alliance of Nigerian Students Against Neoliberal Attacks (ANSA) has condemned the incident, describing it as an arrest and calling for the unconditional release of the students.
“We demand their immediate and unconditional release,” said ANSA’s Deputy National Coordinator, Ikechukwu John. “We urge the public, student unions, ASUU, civil society, and the media to resist this repression.”
The Education Rights Campaign (ERC) also criticized the university’s actions. ERC’s National Mobilisation Officer, Adaramoye Michael, said the treatment of the students reflects growing authoritarianism in Nigerian universities.
Meanwhile, the OAU Students’ Union said it is still investigating the matter. “I’ve heard some unconfirmed reports, but I wasn’t present and don’t have the full details yet,” said the Union’s spokesperson, Aka Daniel.
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