Ogun: NANS, NAOSS demand justice over police brutality against OGITECH students

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Ogun State Joint Campus Council, JCC, alongside the National Association of Ogun State Students, NAOSS, has demanded justice for students of Ogun State Institute of Technology, OGITECH, Igbesa, allegedly brutalised by police officers, including the institution’s Students’ Union Government, SUG President. The demand followed a solidarity visit by the student leaders to the institution after the incident triggered outrage among students and residents of the host community. in a public address issued on Thursday and jointly signed by the Chairman of NANS Ogun JCC, Comrade Tijanni Habeebullahi, and the National President of NAOSS, Comrade Olubodun Olalekan, the student bodies strongly criticised what they described as intimidation, brutality, and extortion allegedly perpetrated by security operatives against students.

“Addressing a crowd of students gathered at the school gate to welcome the delegation, the student leaders reaffirmed their commitment to defending the rights and welfare of Nigerian students, insisting that acts of abuse and harassment must not be allowed to continue unchecked, “the statement read. They, meanwhile, called on students of the institution to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding, assuring them that every lawful step would be taken to ensure justice is served. Following the address, the delegation, accompanied by students, staged a peaceful march to the Igbesa Police Division to formally lodge complaints over the incident. The student leaders alleged that the latest case was not isolated, claiming that several complaints of harassment and extortion had previously been received from students and residents against officers attached to the division.

At the police station, the delegation was received by the Divisional Police Officer of Atan Division, who informed them that the officer allegedly involved in the incident, alongside other personnel linked to the matter, had been summoned to the Ogun State Police Headquarters for further investigation. Despite the assurances, the student leaders presented a list of demands to the police authorities, including the immediate removal of the officer allegedly responsible for the assault from the community, identification and disciplinary action against all officers involved, and a public apology from the Nigeria Police Force to Nigerian students.

The delegation later visited hurt students receiving treatment at the hospital, including the SUG President, who reportedly narrated details of the incident and expressed concerns over what he described as persistent harassment by some police officers operating in the area. The student leaders assured the victims that they would continue to press for justice until students in the community feel safe and adequately protected. from the statement, the delegation also met with the Rector of OGITECH, Dr. Abiodun, who praised the swift intervention of the student leadership.