The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has demanded a full investigation into the alleged attempt by policemen to arrest the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, FUOYE, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, at his residence in Ado-Ekiti. According to reports, policemen surrounded his house at about 6:10 a.m. on Wednesday, prompting staff members and students to mobilize and protest, foiling the operation. NANS has passed a vote of confidence in Prof. Ogunwole's leadership and called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tunji Disu, to conduct an independent investigation.
The attempted arrest was reportedly linked to a petition written by some opposition figures within the university over a leaked audio recording, a matter already before the court. Prof. Ogunwole said he was woken by his children after security personnel were noticed around the house and initially declined to come out, unsure if the men were genuine police officers. NANS described the VC as a respectable scholar who shouldn’t be rubbished under the facade of alleged internal politics and connivance by some staff.
NANS disclosed that Prof. Ogunwole has pursued an agenda centered on academic integrity and prudent financial management, preserving uninterrupted academic peace, stability, and social harmony on campus. The student-centric disposition of the VC has earned him commendation from NANS, which urged him not to be distracted by opponents, saying his mandate is backed by truth, institutional justice, and the defense of the Nigerian student movement.
The students' leadership expressed deep indignation regarding the high-handed and extrajudicial operation executed by armed detachments of the police. They commended the staff and students for botching the operation and defending Prof. Ogunwole over phantom allegations. NANS described the substitution of civilized statutory summons with armed ambush tactics at dawn as counterproductive, uncivilized, and an embarrassment to modern law enforcement.
NANS accused some internal and external detractors of attempting to use the police apparatus to pursue a bitter personal vendetta, undermine the system, and manufacture an artificial leadership crisis at FUOYE. The student body warned that the hard-earned peace, academic stability, and uninterrupted progress of FUOYE are non-negotiable red lines. They cautioned those fighting a proxy war in the university to desist and urged the police to remain an impartial arbiter.
The student movement reiterated its call on the Inspector-General of Police to institute a thorough inquiry to determine which command authorized the irregular deployment to the Vice-Chancellor’s residence and apply sanctions to deter rogue operations. NANS vowed that any repeat of such reckless overreach will be met with immediate, lawful, and unyielding resistance across all campuses nationwide.
NANS also urged the Police High Command, the State Command, and rank-and-file officers to refrain from allowing the machinery of state security to be weaponized as an instrument for proxy administrative warfare, corporate sabotage, or political vendettas against university administrators. The preservation of ivory tower sanctity was emphasized, with NANS stressing that an attack on the head of the university is an attack on the peace, security, and collective dignity of the entire student populace.
Key points
- NANS demands a full probe into the attempted arrest of FUOYE's VC Prof. Joshua Ogunwole by police operatives.
- The attempted arrest was linked to a petition written by opposition figures within the university over a leaked audio recording.
- NANS passed a vote of confidence in Prof. Ogunwole's leadership and urged him not to be distracted by opponents.
