The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has given the Ondo State Government a 72-hour deadline to secure the release of student activists allegedly detained under the directive of the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Kayode Ajulo.
In a statement issued by NANS President, Comrade Olushola Oladoja, the student body accused Ajulo of misusing his position to suppress student activism. NANS called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to step in immediately and ensure the release of Comrade Blessing Akeju and others currently being held at Olokuta Correctional Centre on what the group described as politically motivated and baseless charges.
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NANS reaffirmed its commitment to protecting student rights and warned that failure to comply within the given timeframe would lead to nationwide protests, beginning with a demonstration tagged #OccupyOndoGovernmentHouse.
The statement expressed outrage over the detention of the student activists, describing the actions of the Attorney General as oppressive and unjust. NANS noted that Barr. Ajulo, who has previously portrayed himself as a defender of human rights and justice, should not be using his office to suppress free expression and intimidate young voices.
Labeling the move as authoritarian and hypocritical, NANS condemned what it sees as a betrayal of democratic principles. The association criticized the use of state authority to target dissenting voices and student leaders, calling it a dangerous erosion of civil rights in both the state and the country.
The group stressed that the actions of the Attorney General undermine public confidence in the justice system, turning the law into an instrument of oppression rather than a tool for fairness. It emphasized that the continued detention of the students violates constitutional rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
NANS also accused the Ondo State Government of being complicit through its silence and warned that students would not sit idly by while their peers are punished for demanding accountability and better governance.
“This is not a mere threat,” the statement concluded, “but a firm commitment backed by the collective resolve of Nigerian students. We will not tolerate the persecution of our comrades. An injustice to one is an injustice to all.”
