By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

Authorities of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, have denied reports that two students were arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) following a protest that disrupted a lecture delivered by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The Minister was on the university campus on Thursday for a public lecture themed “Nigeria of Our Dreams,” held at the institution’s iconic Oduduwa Hall and attended by students, academic and non-academic staff, and other dignitaries.

Midway into the programme, two students, identified as Oladepo Joshua and Ejike Kelechi, reportedly held up placards demanding compensation for victims of demolition exercises in the Federal Capital Territory.

A video that has since gone viral on social media captured the moment security operatives forcefully removed the duo from the event venue.

Eyewitnesses at the scene claimed the students were first taken to the university’s internal security unit known as “Floor 0,” located within the Senate Building.

However, multiple sources offered conflicting versions of the event, alleging that DSS operatives attached to the Minister attempted to detain the students but were prevented from doing so by the institution’s security team.

One student, who preferred not to be named for safety reasons, said, “We don’t know where they are now. They were taken away from the hall by both OAU security and DSS.”

As of the time of filing this report, the whereabouts and legal status of the two students remain unclear.

Reacting to the incident, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Abiodun Olarewaju, dismissed claims of an arrest. He maintained that the students were merely escorted out of the venue to avert further disruption to the event.

“They were rescued from being beaten by their colleagues,” Olarewaju said, adding that the protest interrupted a lecture “approved by the university and attended by the overwhelming majority.”

In response to the development, the Alliance of Nigerian Students Against Neoliberal Attacks (ANSA) issued a strongly worded statement condemning the treatment meted out to the students, describing it as an act of repression and calling for their immediate and unconditional release.

“We urge all defenders of justice to rise in condemnation,” said Ikechukwu John, the group’s Deputy National Coordinator.

Similarly, the Education Rights Campaign (ERC) raised concern over the incident, warning that it signalled an alarming trend of growing despotism in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Great Ife Students’ Union stated that it was still gathering facts and had not received an official report on the incident.

“We have not received an official account of what transpired,” a representative of the Union said.

The incident has since sparked heated discussions on campus and across social media, with students and civil society actors questioning the limits of free expression in academic environments, particularly during high-profile government visits.

As of press time, the DSS has not issued any official statement concerning its alleged involvement, while efforts to reach the families or legal representatives of the affected students were unsuccessful.