Insecurity: NANS lauds Ogun gov, IGP over surveillance aircraft deployment

…issues 72-hour ultimatum to rescue 5 abducted students

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has commended the Ogun State Government and the Inspector General of Police for deploying a surveillance aircraft to tackle insecurity in the state, even as it issued a 72-hour ultimatum for the rescue of five abducted students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, among other demands.

In a Wednesday statement signed by NANS National Secretary General, Comrade Oladimeji Uthman, the association also announced it planned to stage a mass peaceful protest over what it described as the “persistent and alarming wave of insecurity” confronting students across tertiary institutions in Ogun State.

NANS acknowledged the deployment of the operational police aircraft, which it said was requested by Governor Prince Dr. Dapo Abiodun and facilitated by IGP Olatunji Disu.

The student body said the aircraft would “significantly enhance aerial surveillance, intelligence gathering, and rapid response capabilities of security agencies,” particularly in ongoing efforts to rescue students held in captivity since a week ago.

“The national leadership of NANS wants to use this medium to commend the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Riliwan Disu for the prompt deployment of an operational police aircraft to support the ongoing security operations in the state most especially to rescue our members who have been in captivity a week ago and also appreciate the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dr. Dapo Abiodun MFR for his urgent request and unwavering commitment to the safety of lives and property in the state as the deployment of the aircraft would significantly enhance aerial surveillance, intelligence gathering, and rapid response capabilities of security agencies, thereby complementing ongoing efforts to rid Ogun State of criminal elements.,” Uthman said.

NANS decried several recent incidents of attacks on students, including the kidnapping of five students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade (GAPOSA), the killing of a female student, Ahmed Sekinat, at D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, and armed robbery attacks around Tai Solarin Federal University of Education (TASFUED), Ijebu Ode; Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye; Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro (FPI); and Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, (AAP), Ijebu-Igbo.

The association said students can no longer “move freely, attend lectures or return to their hostels without fear of attack” due to armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, and cult-related violence.

“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,” NANS said.

NANS also lamented that its earlier request for a strategic meeting with heads of security agencies in the state was not honoured, describing the failure to engage as “a clear indication that the lives and properties of Nigerian Students in the state is not important.”

The association said, “It is deeply regrettable that despite the growing insecurity across the off-campus hostels in our tertiary institutions in Ogun State, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) National Headquarters wrote to all heads of security agencies in the state, requesting a strategic meeting to extensively discuss practical and lasting solutions to the worsening insecurity affecting our campuses and student communities.

“Regrettably, these requests were not honoured, as the concerned security authorities failed to grant the leadership of NANS the requested audience. This refusal to engage with the legitimate representatives of Nigerian students is a clear indication that the lives and properties of Nigerian Students in the state is not important, and this has frustrated genuine efforts aimed at finding collaborative solutions to the insecurity menace, while students continue to suffer armed robbery attacks, kidnappings, violent assaults and loss of lives. Such indifference to the plight of students is unacceptable and has further strengthened our resolve to mobilize students in demanding urgent government intervention.

“This ugly trend has become unacceptable.”

Effective from Wednesday, August 5, 2026, NANS gave the Ogun State Government, Ogun State Police Command, DSS Ogun Command, NSCDC Ogun Command, and other security agencies 72 hours to: secure the unconditional release of the five abducted GAPOSA students and prosecute those responsible; arrest and prosecute perpetrators of the killing of the DSAP Itori student; strengthen security around all tertiary institutions; deploy the Ogun State Anti-Violent Crime Team to campuses and student communities; increase patrols and establish permanent security posts in vulnerable student communities; send a high-powered government delegation to condole the family of Ahmed Sekinat and visit the student receiving treatment at FMC Abeokuta; and establish the Ogun Security Agencies–Student Leaders Relations Forum (OGSASLRF).

“Failure to meet these demands within the stipulated 72Hours will leave the national students body (NANS) 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,” the association said.

NANS called on Students’ Union Governments, labour unions, civil society organisations, and youth groups to prepare to join the looming protest.

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