ILE-IFE (CONVERSEER) – The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has dismissed reports that two students were arrested by security operatives during a protest at an event attended by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Wike, a former Governor of Rivers State, was on campus on Thursday as the guest speaker at the university’s 2025 Distinguished Personality Lecture, held at the Oduduwa Hall. He delivered a speech titled “Nigeria of Our Dreams”, amid a mixed reaction from members of the university community.
Two students, identified as Oladepo Joshua and Ejike Kelechi, reportedly disrupted the event by raising placards demanding compensation for Abuja residents whose properties were demolished under Wike’s directive as FCT Minister.
A video circulating online showed the students being escorted out of the hall by security personnel while the minister was still speaking.
Eyewitnesses said the protest caused a brief disruption, drawing murmurs from the audience before the situation was brought under control. The protesting students were later seen being taken to the university’s internal security unit, known as ‘Floor 0’, located within the Senate Building.
“They brought out the placards in the middle of the lecture. Security officials rushed them immediately,” a student who witnessed the incident said.
Another source stated, “They were initially taken away by Wike’s security aides, but university security officials later intervened and ensured they were not taken off-campus.”
Reacting to the incident, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, denied that any arrest took place. He explained that the students were “rescued” from a potential mob attack by their fellow students.
“Everybody has a right to protest, but the microscopic minority should not disrupt a programme approved by the overwhelming majority,” Olarewaju said.
“They were not arrested. They were only escorted out of the hall to prevent escalation. Some students had already begun confronting them. When 20 students face two, anything can happen. Our security simply rescued them from being attacked,” he added.
Olarewaju, who also anchored the event, stressed that the university acted in the interest of the students involved to prevent violence, questioning the attempt to disrupt a lecture attended peacefully by hundreds.
However, the incident has drawn condemnation from student advocacy groups. The Alliance of Nigerian Students Against Neoliberal Attacks (ANSA) accused the authorities of repression and demanded the “immediate and unconditional release” of the students.
“This is a clear case of repression and suppression of student voices,” ANSA’s Deputy National Coordinator, Ikechukwu John, said in a statement.
Similarly, the Education Rights Campaign (ERC) condemned the incident, with its National Mobilisation Officer, Adaramoye Michael, describing the treatment of the students as “a reflection of growing despotism in higher institutions.”
As of the time of filing this report, the Students’ Union said it had not received a formal briefing on the incident. The union’s Public Relations Officer, Aka Daniel, stated, “I wasn’t at the event and I don’t have full details yet. But we’re following up on the matter.”
Efforts to contact the detained students for comments were unsuccessful, as their exact whereabouts remained unclear late Thursday.