The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South-West Zone D, staged a protest in Akure on Thursday to express their dissatisfaction over the rising insecurity in Ondo State.
The protesters, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Ondo Students Not Lucky,” “Nigerian Students in Ondo State Deserve Better,” and “We Need More Security in Our State,” decried the government’s perceived inaction in addressing safety concerns affecting students.
Speaking to journalists, the Deputy Coordinator of NANS South-West Zone D, Ademola Adegoke, lamented the increasing cases of kidnapping and insecurity in the state, stating that students have been particularly affected.
He accused the state government of neglecting its responsibility to ensure the safety of students, citing recent cases where students, including those undergoing the Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), have been unable to go to their places of assignment due to security fears.
“Some of our students, especially those in agriculture, cannot even go to their farms because of rampant kidnappings. Just recently, four students of the Federal College of Agriculture (FECA), Akure, were kidnapped, yet the governor showed no empathy,” Adegoke stated.
He criticized Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for failing to address students directly, arguing that a peaceful state should guarantee safety for its students as well.
Beyond security concerns, the protesters also demanded better learning conditions, highlighting the lack of proper healthcare facilities in schools.
“A School of Health in this state does not even have a functioning health center for students. In some cases, you won’t even find common paracetamol. Is this acceptable?” he queried.
The students called on the governor to engage with them or clarify if his administration does not intend to prioritize student welfare.
The protest, which took place along the popular Oba Adesida Road leading to the State High Court, caused significant traffic congestion around the A Division Headquarters of the Nigeria Police.
While no government official came out to address the protesters, security personnel were on the ground to ensure the demonstration remained peaceful and was not hijacked by hoodlums.
