There was tension on Tuesday evening as suspected political thugs attacked Student leaders of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Osun axis.
It was gathered that the student leaders were attacked during the visit by the leadership of NANS Osun in protest of the fee hike at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Recall Osun Defender had earlier reported that students of Obafemi Awolowo University took to the streets earlier in the morning, protesting the hike in their tuition fees.
In a statement sighted by Osun Defender and signed by the chairman of NANS Osun, Ogungbe Taiwo, General Secretary, Afolabi Faruq and PRO, Adedapo Emmanuel, the students alleged that the thugs who attacked them were affiliated to the Osun State Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi, and that they are officials of the Osun Transport System Management (OTSM).
According to the NAN statement, “The recent actions taken by the Osun State government have brought tyranny and oppression to its citizens, especially the students in the state.
“It is both absurd and concerning to witness the deputy governor of the state, Prince Kola Adewusi, resort to using hooligans and other notorious individuals to suppress and oppress the people of the state.
“During a solidarity visit by the leadership of NANS JCC Osun Axis to Ife in protest of the fee hike at OAU, the Osun Transport System Management (OTSM) formally known as NURTW officers claiming to be affiliated with the Osun State deputy governor, Prince Kola Adewusi, attacked unarmed students using various weapons such as guns, cutlasses, and machetes.
“These individuals, who identified themselves as government-affiliated thugs, showed a phone call from the deputy governor to confirm their association. They accused the leadership of NANS JCC Osun Axis of being aligned with a political party and claimed that the deputy governor had instructed them to kill anyone not in support of him. They even boasted about past killings they had carried out.
“As intellectuals, we engaged them in dialogue, explaining that we are not members of any political party but a student association committed to protecting the interests of students. Our presence in Ife was solely to peacefully protest the hike in school fees.
“However, before we conclude (sic) our explanation, the deputy governor’s thugs attacked our Chief Protocol Officer (CPO), Chief Security Officer (CSO), and Assistant General Secretary (AGS). As of now, the CPO is in the hospital with injuries to his eyes, while others were brutally beaten.
“Furthermore, three phones (iPhone 12 pro max, iPhone XS Max were stolen and 10C redime phone’s screen was damaged, the thugs vandalized the bus by breaking its glass and destroying other items.
“If the deputy governor, who is supposed to protect the interests of students, resorts to using thugs to oppress and brutalize them, what hope is there for the common man in the state?
“We call upon the general public to question the deputy governor about when NANS became the opposition to the state government, or when our bus became the opposition’s bus to justify such brutality against students.
“The leadership of NANS JCC Osun State Axis demands an immediate response from the deputy governor. Additionally, we expect the chairman of Ilesa Garage Park in Ife to compensate the students for the damages caused to us.
“We hereby give the deputy governor a 48-hour ultimatum to respond. Failure to do so will result in a massive protest at the Government House and a complete shutdown of all roads in Osogbo.
“We believe that the government should respond to our demands. We trust that our governor is a student-friendly leader who will prioritize our interests by addressing these concerns raised to his deputy.”
Efforts to speak with Goke Awoyemi, the spokesman of the deputy governor proved abortive as he didn’t respond to call and messages from our correspondent.
- Sodiq Lawal
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
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