Students across Ondo State took to the streets of Akure on Thursday to protest the alarming state of insecurity. The demonstration, led by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South-West Zone D, was a bold expression of frustration over the growing threats to student safety.
Carrying placards with messages like “Ondo Students Not Lucky” and “We Need More Security In Our State,” the students gathered peacefully to demand urgent action from the state government.
Ademola Adegoke, Deputy Coordinator of NANS, South-West Zone D, spoke to the press during the protest, emphasizing the rising dangers that students face in their day-to-day activities.
“Some of our students including those on SIWES cannot go to their various places of assignments, even those that need to go to farms do not due to the rampant kidnapping in the state,” he said.
He also pointed to the recent abduction of four students from the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, noting the lack of response from the state’s leadership.
“Recently, four students of Federal College of Agriculture (FECA), Akure, were kidnapped and the governor did not show any signs of empathy. As the number one citizen in the state, Mr governor was supposed to come out and address us.”
The students also called attention to the poor state of facilities in their institutions. “A School of Health in the state cannot boast of a good health centre for students. And you will hardly see common paracetamol in the centre.”
Expressing their disappointment, Adegoke added, “We want to know if Mr governor doesn’t want to have anything doing with us as students; he should let us know. We are outside here to let him know that we (students) are not happy with him.”
During the protest, the students blocked the busy Oba Adesida Road, causing traffic congestion near the State High Court and A Division Police Headquarters. However, the protest remained peaceful, with police officers present to ensure it wasn’t hijacked by miscreants. No government official addressed the protesters.
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