Two students, Oladepo Joshua, a 400 level Political Science student and Ejike Kelechi, 200 level Psychology student, were on Thursday reportedly arrested and detained by officers of the Obafemi Awolowo University campus security unit.
A video of the scene obtained by Peoples Gazette showed two students holding placards and being hauled out of Oduduwa Hall, venue of a scheduled personality lecture, featuring the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The President of the Great Ife Students Union, Omoboriowo Isaac and Secretary-General, Babatimehim Kinfeosi, didn’t pick up calls to their mobiles. The institution’s spokesperson, Abiodun Olanrewaju, also had yet to return calls made to his mobile.
The Osun State Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Zechariah, told the Peoples Gazette that he was not aware of the incident. “I’m not aware to the best of our knowledge,” Mr Zekariah said.
Reacting to the development, the National Publicity Secretary of the African Action Congress, Adeyeye Olorunfemi, demanded the immediate release of the two students.
He said, “Attention has just been drawn to the violent attack of students by Wike’s and APC’s lapdogs mobilized by OAU’s VC today. The students are Joshua Oladepo, National Coordinator of Alliance of Nigerian Students Against Neoliberal Attacks (ANSA) and Kelechi Ejike. We demand the immediate release of these brave students who refuse to bow to tyranny.’’
Also, a group, the Alliance of Nigerian Students Against Neoliberal Attacks, in a statement signed by its Deputy Coordinator, Ikechukwu John, called on the Obafemi Awolowo University management, led by Professor Simeon Bamire and the Federal Government, to ensure the students’ release.
The group said, “We hold the administration of Professor Simeon Bamire directly responsible for this cowardly crackdown on dissent. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of our comrades. We urge the Nigerian public, the Great Ife Students’ Union, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, other progressive unions, civil society groups, the media, and all defenders of justice to rise in condemnation of this repression.’’
