Protesting MAPOLY students ‘attack’ Ogun deputy governor’s convoy

The convoy of Noimot Salako-Oyedele, deputy governor of Ogun, was reportedly attacked on Wednesday by some protesting students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Salako-Oyedele was on her way to the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, to represent Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ogun, at an event commemorating the Armed Forces Remembrance Day when the protesting students of the state-owned polytechnic allegedly attacked her convoy.

The students have been protesting for days over an alleged increase in tuition fees and delay in the mobilisation of higher national diploma (HND) graduates for the one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

The school management has since shut down the institution and directed students to stay away from the campus.

In a statement, Kayode Akinmade, special adviser to the governor on media and strategy, said the students, armed with sticks, “rushed to attack” the convoy upon recognising it belonged to the deputy governor.

“All efforts to allow the convoy to pass proved abortive. As soon as the students realised it was the Deputy Governor, they became even more restive and rushed to attack her convoy with the intention of demobilising it, despite her security operatives and other police officers’ persuasion for the students to stay calm and allow the convoy to pass,” the statement reads.

“This action from the students prompted her convoy to make an immediate detour to her lodge, allowing the protesting students to pass peacefully before she proceeded to the function she was slated to attend.

“Noteworthy is that vehicular movement was obstructed, while some of her security vehicles were damaged and her security details were hurt in the process of maintaining law and order, contrary to the students’ claims that they were shot at.”