DSS Arrests Two OAU Students Over Protest Against Wike’s Campus Lecture

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, was thrown into tension on Thursday after students staged a protest against the invitation extended to Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, to speak at a university event.

Wike, the immediate past governor of Rivers State and a controversial figure in Nigerian politics, was scheduled to deliver a lecture at the university’s historic Oduduwa Hall. His invitation, however, sparked outrage among students who denounced his presence on campus as unacceptable.

Chanting solidarity songs and wielding placards with critical inscriptions, the students condemned Wike’s political record, describing him as a symbol of corruption, repression, and elitist governance. They argued that his presence at the event was not only inappropriate but also an affront to the values the institution stands for.

According to the protesting students, the Oduduwa Hall, a venue steeped in the university’s tradition of academic and civic engagement, should not be used to host what they described as a “disgraceful character.” They accused Wike of undermining democratic ideals and repressing dissent, both as governor and in his current role as FCT Minister.

The protest leaders called on the university management to revoke Wike’s invitation and allow the student body to democratically decide whether such figures should be allowed to speak at official events. They also demanded that the university and Students’ Union declare Wike *persona non grata* and publicly commit to distancing the institution from political image laundering.

As the protest escalated, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) attached to Wike’s security detail intervened, arresting two student leaders identified as Ejike Kelechi and Oladepo Joshua. They were reportedly whisked away to an undisclosed location, raising further concerns about freedom of expression and the right to protest within academic spaces.

Despite the disruption, the event eventually went ahead, albeit several hours behind schedule, following the deployment of additional security personnel, including police officers from across Ile-Ife and surrounding areas.

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