The Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Nigeria, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, narrowly avoided an altercation with protesting students in Abeokuta on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, She was en route to represent Governor Dapo Abiodun at the 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day ceremony at the 35 Artillery Brigade when her convoy encountered the protesters.
The students, primarily from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), were demonstrating against several grievances, including delayed results for graduates, NYSC mobilization delays, and tuition fee hikes. These protests had already led to the school’s closure and the dissolution of its student union by the institution’s management.
A statement from Kayode Akinmade, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, claimed the students, allegedly armed with sticks and other objects, turned aggressive upon recognizing the deputy governor’s convoy. Efforts by her security team to pacify them reportedly failed, leading to minor injuries to some officers and damage to security vehicles. The convoy eventually diverted to avoid escalation.
However, Adeyanju Francis, Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Ogun JCC, disputed this account, accusing the police attached to the convoy of initiating violence by shooting at the students. Francis also denied claims that the students were armed, emphasizing their peaceful intentions. “We were marching peacefully to the Governor’s office when the deputy governor’s entourage shot at us,” he said.
