Two students at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, held a peaceful protest during a lecture by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. The event took place on June 5, 2025, while Wike was speaking on the topic “Nigeria of Our Dreams.”
The students, Kelechi Ejike and Joshua Temitope Oladepo, held signs that said, “Compensate Victims of Demolition,” referring to the houses destroyed in Abuja during Wike’s tenure as minister.
Soon after the protest began, security officers—believed to be from the DSS—removed the students from the hall and took them to the university’s “Floor 0” security office. They were later released after pressure from human rights and student groups. The university later claimed the students were not arrested but were “rescued from mob action.” Many people disagreed, saying the school was merely trying to conceal the fact that the students had been punished for participating in a peaceful protest.
Activists say this event teaches students how to protest wisely. They advise protesters to record videos or take pictures, work with groups like ASUU and the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), and focus on specific issues, such as the Abuja demolitions, instead of shouting general complaints.
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