A large number of students in Ondo State staged a protest in Akure on Wednesday, expressing their outrage over the detention of some of their fellow students.
The demonstration was sparked by a magistrate court’s order to remand the students — from the Akoko region — in prison following a reported confrontation with the state’s Attorney General, Mr. Kayode Ajulo.
Among those in custody is James Akeju, who currently serves as the President of the Akoko Youth Forum and is a former Student Union President of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic.
During the protest, the students blocked major roads leading to the state secretariat and the Federal Secretariat for several hours. They sang solidarity songs and demanded the unconditional release of Akeju and the other detained individuals.
To demonstrate their resolve, the protesters brought along cooking equipment, signaling their readiness to remain at the protest site until their demands were met.
Despite appeals from the Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, urging them to disperse, the protesters stood their ground.
Adegboyega Afe, Coordinator of the Ondo State Youth Network, condemned the charges brought against the detained youths — including allegations of cyberbullying and issuing threats — describing them as baseless.
He further criticized the process, stating, “The procedure was highly irregular. The accused were not properly informed of the charges before being taken to court.”
Oladimeji Adewunmi, National Social Director of the Akoko Youth Forum, called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to intervene, insisting that the protest would continue until justice was served.
“Our only crime was visiting a public office to deliver an invitation to an event. We demand the immediate release of Akeju and the other two youths in detention. We won’t leave this protest until our demands are met,” he declared.
Meanwhile, Yomisaint Adebayo, Technical Adviser to the Attorney General, explained that the detained students were arraigned following a police investigation into allegations such as assault, conspiracy, and cybercrime.
He assured the public that the matter would be addressed promptly and called for calm while the legal process unfolds.
