The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has given the Ogun State Government and security agencies a 72-hour ultimatum to rescue five abducted students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, arrest those responsible for the killing of a student of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, and address the worsening insecurity around tertiary institutions in the state.

NANS warned that it would embark on sustained peaceful protests across Ogun State if its demands were not met within the stipulated period.

The ultimatum was announced on Wednesday during a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Abeokuta by the association’s Secretary-General, Oladimeji Uthman, popularly known as “Dan Fodio.”

Uthman said students across tertiary institutions in the state now live in fear due to recurring incidents of kidnapping, armed robbery, cult violence, rape and other criminal activities.

“The recent abduction of five students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, the killing of a female student of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, and repeated armed robbery attacks around Tai Solarin Federal University of Education, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, and Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic underscore the worsening security situation in the state,” he said.

He lamented that previous efforts by NANS to engage security agencies through dialogue yielded no results, alleging that invitations extended to the agencies were ignored.

“It is deeply regrettable that despite the growing insecurity across off-campus hostels in our tertiary institutions, the National Association of Nigerian Students wrote to all heads of security agencies in the state requesting a strategic meeting. Regrettably, these requests were not honoured,” Uthman stated.

Despite the concerns, he commended the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, for deploying an operational police aircraft to strengthen security operations, describing the move as a positive step towards improving surveillance and rescue efforts.

NANS demanded the immediate rescue of the abducted students, the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the killing of the D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic student, and justice for all victims of attacks on students.

The association also urged authorities to increase security patrols around campuses, establish permanent security posts in vulnerable student communities, deploy the Ogun State Anti-Violent Crime Team to tertiary institutions, strengthen collaboration between school authorities and security agencies, and create a Security Agencies–Student Leaders Relations Forum.

Uthman warned that failure to act within 72 hours would compel the association to begin peaceful statewide protests until adequate security is guaranteed for students.

The ultimatum follows recent security incidents in the state, including the July 27 killing of an HND II Marketing student of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic during a robbery attack in the Eruku community and the abduction of five Gateway ICT Polytechnic students from a private hostel in Ipara Remo on July 29.

The Ogun State Police Command has said tactical units have been deployed to rescue the abducted students and track down those responsible.