It was a dramatic turn of events on Wednesday when Ogun State Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, narrowly avoided a potentially violent confrontation as angry students took to the streets of Abeokuta, the state capital, in a protest over rising school fees.
According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, the Deputy Governor was en route to the 35 Artillery Brigade Alabama in Abeokuta, where she was scheduled to represent Governor Dapo Abiodun at the 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day reception.
However, as her convoy made its way through the bustling streets, it encountered a sea of irate students from the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) armed with sticks and other dangerous projectiles.
The tension quickly escalated as the students, already on edge, realized that the Deputy Governor was among those in the convoy.
Their anger surged as they rushed to halt her passage, attempting to disable the convoy in a fury of chants and movement, despite repeated calls for calm from her security detail and the police officers present.
Faced with the growing unrest, the Deputy Governor’s convoy was forced to make an urgent detour, retreating to her lodge to allow the students to pass by.
This strategic move was made to ensure that the situation did not spiral further out of control, and to allow the Deputy Governor to fulfill her official duties.
The protest led to a severe disruption of traffic, with vehicles blocked and several security vehicles suffering damage in the process.
It was also reported that some of the security personnel sustained injuries while working to maintain order during the volatile situation, despite claims in the media suggesting otherwise.
In stark contrast to these reports, Comrade Adeyanju Francis, Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), quickly dispelled allegations of an attack on the Deputy Governor.
Speaking to journalists, Francis clarified that there was no confrontation with the Deputy Governor. Rather, the students had gathered in anticipation, mistakenly thinking she would address their grievances over the school fee hike.
Francis also pointed out that the protest, which was peaceful, was conducted under the supervision of six Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and a Deputy Commissioner of Police, ensuring order and security.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that the protest remained peaceful, with no sticks or dangerous weapons in sight, contrary to claims made by the Governor’s Special Adviser.