Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Engr Noimot Salako-Oyedele on Wednesday escaped being attacked when her convoy ran into the procession of students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) who were protesting the school fees hike by management of the institution in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Salako-Oyedele’s convoy, which was on its way to 35 Artillery Brigade Alamala, Abeokuta to represent Governor Dapo Abiodun at the reception marking the year 2025 edition of the Armed Forces Remembrance day celebrations ran into the protesting students at the Oke-Ilewo axis of Abeokuta metropolis, close to the State Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Armed with placards bearing different instructions, the protesting MAPOLY students had trooped to the streets of Abeokuta chanting different “aluta” choruses that decrying the school management’s policy that led to hike in school fees by 150 percent.
The students were also protesting non-release of their Higher National Diploma (HND) final year results, which they claimed denied them from being mobilised for the one year compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) service.
The protest, which entered its 3rd day however, brought vehicular movement to a total halt at the Iwe Irohin axis as students shunned the plea from the Police led by the Metro Area Commander, Zone II.
On sighting the protesting MAPOLY students however, the deputy governor’s convoy hurriedly made a detour to avoid being caught up by the protesters who were advancing towards her convoy from the opposite direction.
Notwithstanding, the protesting students still caught up with Salako-Oyedele’s convoy, compelling her security details to fire several shots into the air to enable them escape with their principal from danger.
Reacting to the shooting, the Special Adviser to Governor Abiodun on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade said the irate MAPOLY students were armed with sticks and other dangerous objects during the protest.
“All efforts to allow the convoy pass proved abortive as immediately the students realised it was the Deputy Governor, they became even more restive and rushed to attack her convoy with the aim of demobilising it, despite her security operatives as well as other police officers on grounds persuading them to stay calm and allow the convoy to pass.
“This informed her convoy’s decision to make an immediate detour to her lodge for the protesting students to pass peacefully before she left for the function she was slated to attend.
“Noteworthy is that there was obstruction of vehicular movement, while some of her security vehicles were damaged and her security operatives were also hurt in the process of maintaining law and order contrary to the news making rounds in the press,” Akinmade said.
But in his reaction, chairman of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) in the state, Comrade Adeyanju Francis said there was no confrontational attack on the deputy governor’s convoy.
Adeyanju explained that the students assembled themselves when they saw the convoy of the Deputy Governor, thinking that she was coming to address them on the matter.
He also disclosed that there were six Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), including a deputy commissioner of police in charge of operations present with the students during the peaceful protest.
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