Students of the Gateway Institute of Technology, Igbesa, Ogun State, have protested against allege assault and unlawful detention of their colleagues by policemen attached to Igbesa Division, and demanded their immediate release.

The students, who besieged the police station, chanting solidarity songs, demanded the release of their Student Union Government (SUG) President, Temitope Ilo, and one other student who was arrested by the operatives for being in possession of black soap.

It was learnt that one of the students, during the police stop and search operation, was found with a black soap and was allegedly locked up, a situation which prompted the Intervention of Ilo and other students.

While the SUG President and other students gathered at the station on Tuesday evening to see the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and appeal for the release, an argument ensued between them and the police which resulted to the operatives allegedly locking up the SUG President.

In a circulating video , a student, seen with blood gushing from his mouth and agitating in front of the police station, was shouting at the top of his voice that the police threatened and beat them.

“They have decided to intimidate us, they have decided to beat us, without doing anything…” he said.

But, speaking before he was detained, the SUG President narrated how he tried to see the DPO to intervene in the matter after he saw some students agitating for the release of the student caught in possession of black soap.

“I asked to see the DPO and we were refused and asked to come back tomorrow. The students refused and started singing aluta songs that the student have been locked up in the cell. Immediately those officers riding small cars came and then M/S wanted to shoot us. He cocked the gun wanting to shoot us and the DPO came…,” he said.

However, National Association of Nigeria Students (NANs) and Eight Students Union Governments (SUG) of Tertiary Institutions in Ogun State have demanded thorough investigation into the alleged assault and unlawful detention of students, calling for the sanction of the officers involved.

NANS, while responding to the development, through its Public Relations Officer, Adeyemi Ajasa, condemned the incident, describing it as both disturbing and unacceptable.

It stated that the officers’ actions constitute not only a clear infringement on the fundamental rights of Nigerian students, but also a threat to democratic student unionism and peaceful coexistence in tertiary institutions.

Also, the SUG presidents from eight institutions, demanded a formal public apology from the Igbesa Police Division, sanctions against all officers involved in the alleged brutality and unlawful detention, as well as proper protection for students from harassment, intimidation, and illegal arrests by security personnel.

When contacted the Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the incident and said that the Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, has directed that a thorough and immediate investigation be launched into the circumstances surrounding.

Babaseyi reassured members of the public that any proven misconduct would attract appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with existing regulations, stressing that the matter would be handled firmly and justice pursued without compromise.

”The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Bode Ojajuni, has ordered an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“The Command assures the public that the matter is receiving prompt attention and that due process will be strictly followed to establish the facts. Where any misconduct is established, appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken in line with extant regulations,” he added. (The Guardian, excluding headline)

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