The Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, reportedly escaped an attack by student representatives during a protest in Abeokuta on Wednesday.
Salako-Oyedele was en route to the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, to represent Governor Dapo Abiodun at the 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day event when her convoy encountered the protesting students.
The protest, organized by students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), began at the school gate and was scheduled to conclude at the Governor’s Office in Oke-Mosan. Students had taken to the streets to express their dissatisfaction over unresolved issues, including pending results for graduates, delays in NYSC mobilization, and increased tuition fees.
Following the initial protest on Monday, MAPOLY’s management shut down the institution indefinitely and dissolved the student union executives. In response, the Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ogun JCC, Adeyanju Francis, announced plans for another protest on Wednesday against the institution’s actions.
According to a statement from Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, the protesting students became aggressive upon spotting the Deputy Governor’s convoy.
“The irate protesting MAPOLY students, armed with sticks and other dangerous projectiles, became more aggressive when they recognized the Deputy Governor. Despite efforts by her security team and police officers to calm the situation, the students rushed to attack her convoy,” the statement read.
The statement further explained that the Deputy Governor’s convoy made an immediate detour to her lodge to allow the protest to proceed peacefully. However, during the incident, several vehicles in her convoy were damaged, and some security personnel sustained injuries while trying to maintain order.
When contacted, NANS Ogun JCC Chairman Adeyanju Francis refuted the claims, alleging that policemen attached to the Deputy Governor’s convoy initiated the confrontation by shooting at the students.
“None of our students attacked her. We were peacefully heading to Oke-Mosan to express our grievances when her entourage intercepted us. Initially, we thought she was sent to engage with us, but her security team started shooting at Nigerian students,” Francis stated.
He added, “We even recovered three bullets fired at us near OPIC on our way to Iwe Iroyin. None of our students were armed with sticks or dangerous items. This is a false accusation against Nigerian students. Instead, it was her security team that injured some of our students, which led to the students chasing their vehicles.”
The situation remains tense as both parties present conflicting accounts of the events, highlighting the growing frustrations between the students and the state government.
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