The Nigerian Police have released two students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Oladepo Joshua and Ejike Kelechi, who were detained at the Moore Police Station in Ile-Ife, Osun State, for protesting the visit of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Wike had been invited to deliver a lecture at the university on Thursday, sparking tension and demonstrations across campus.
The students were released at exactly 10 p.m. following pressure mounted by their colleagues, activists, and executives of the Students’ Union who had gathered at the police station demanding their freedom.
The Union’s President, Omoboriowo Damilola Isaac (popularly known as Dr. Bush), and General Secretary, Babatimehin Kinfeosi Joy, were present to receive the released students.
In appreciation , the Student Union expressed gratitude to the students, legal practitioners , rights Activists and the General Public for their solidarity which they said led to the release of the students.
Wike’s lecture, titled “Nigeria of Our Dreams”, was held at the university’s symbolic Oduduwa Hall amid protests from student groups who questioned his political record and alleged anti-people policies.
Prior to the event, several student bodies had demanded the revocation of Wike’s invitation, citing what they described as his involvement in demolitions, elitist governance, and suppression of dissent in the FCT.
Protesters wielded placards with slogans such as “Oduduwa Hall is Sacred! Keep Tyrants Out!” and “Wike is Persona Non Grata!” As early as 8 a.m., hundreds of students assembled outside the hall, chanting slogans and blocking access to the venue.
The SUN gathered that security personnel, including those alleged to be security operatives struggled to get Wike into the hall amid heavy resistance and chants from the crowd.
Midway through the lecture, Oladepo and Kelechi interrupted Wike’s address, demanding accountability over alleged mass demolitions in Abuja.
They were swiftly apprehended by security operatives and forcibly removed, causing a brief disruption. Eyewitnesses claimed the students were initially taken to the university’s internal security unit, known as “Floor 0”, before being handed over to the police.
The university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, however, denied any arrest, claiming the students were merely “escorted out” to prevent violence. “Only two students tried to disrupt the event.
Their colleagues were already descending on them, and to prevent injury, security officials removed them. They were not arrested,” he said.
This account was challenged by student eyewitnesses, who insisted that the duo were in fact arrested and transported to Moore Police Station with intentions to detain them until after the Eid-El-Kabir holidays. One student said, “They wanted to take them away to Abuja, but our security unit resisted it.”
The incident provoked immediate backlash from legal practitioners and civil society organisations. NEWWORTH LLP, a Lagos-based law firm, issued a 24-hour ultimatum demanding the students’ release, describing the arrests as unconstitutional.
In a statement signed by its Lead Partner, Ayo Ademiluyi Esq., the firm threatened legal action against the police, university authorities, and Minister Wike.
“Freedom of expression is a constitutional right. These students were arrested for raising placards during a public lecture. If they are not released within 24 hours, we will initiate legal proceedings in public interest,” Ademiluyi stated.
