A group of protesting students from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) in Abeokuta clashed with the convoy of Ogun State Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, on Wednesday, creating chaos in the state capital.
The confrontation occurred while the Deputy Governor was en route to the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, to represent Governor Dapo Abiodun at the 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day reception.
According to a statement released to the media, the students, armed with sticks and other dangerous objects, launched an aggressive attack on the convoy. The attack caused significant disruption to traffic in the area, with several vehicles in the Deputy Governor’s security convoy damaged. In the process of controlling the situation, some security personnel assigned to Salako-Oyedele sustained injuries as they tried to protect the convoy and restore order.
The statement further described how, despite multiple attempts by the Deputy Governor’s security team, along with local police officers, to calm the situation and allow the convoy to pass, the students grew increasingly restive once they realized it was the Deputy Governor’s vehicle. Their hostility intensified, and they rushed towards the convoy in an attempt to halt its movement, forcing the security personnel to make the difficult decision to divert the convoy away from the protesters.
As a result of the escalating unrest, the Deputy Governor’s convoy took a detour to a nearby location, allowing the protesting students to clear the path peacefully before Salako-Oyedele could continue her journey to the scheduled event.
“The students’ resistance made it impossible for the convoy to continue on its original path. After efforts to engage them peacefully failed, the convoy was redirected to allow the students to disperse and clear the way. This move was necessary to prevent further confrontation,” the statement read.
The attack on the Deputy Governor’s convoy has brought attention to the growing tensions between students and government officials in the state. While the immediate cause of the protest remains unclear, such incidents reflect a broader sense of frustration among student populations, highlighting issues that may have sparked this confrontation. The authorities are expected to investigate the event further, ensuring that the security of government officials and public order are maintained in future interactions.
The damage to the convoy, the injury of security operatives, and the disturbance to public peace underscore the urgent need for effective dialogue between student groups and the government to address the underlying issues leading to such violent protests.
