The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South-West Zone, has opened high-level engagements with the Nigeria Police Force over rising insecurity, cult-related violence and strained police–student relations across tertiary institutions in the region.
The engagement, held with the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos, was aimed at forging stronger collaboration to safeguard campuses and restore confidence among students.
The NANS delegation was led by the South-West Zonal Public Relations Officer, alongside the Zonal Sports Director, the National Deputy President of the National Association of University Students (NAUS), and the General Secretary of the Lagos State University Students’ Union (LASUSU).
The meeting formed part of NANS’ broader advocacy for the protection of students’ lives, academic freedom and learning environments.
During the discussions, NANS expressed deep concern over the growing wave of cult-related violence, armed robbery, drug trafficking, sexual harassment and other criminal activities within and around campuses in the South-West.
The student leaders warned that cultism had become a major threat to peace and academic stability, with rival groups terrorising students, recruiting under coercion and collaborating with external criminal networks.
They noted that the situation had resulted in loss of lives, disruption of academic calendars, psychological trauma and declining confidence in campus safety.
NANS called for intensified intelligence-led policing around campuses, regular patrols within student-dominated communities, closer collaboration with school authorities and student unions, as well as prompt and transparent prosecution of arrested offenders to serve as a deterrent.
In a frank exchange, the NANS delegation also raised concerns over reported cases of extortion, harassment and intimidation of students by some police officers, particularly during stop-and-search operations and checkpoints around campuses.
According to the students, innocent undergraduates are sometimes profiled based on appearance or possession of laptops and smartphones, while others are allegedly forced to pay illegal sums before being released.
They warned that such practices have fuelled fear, distrust and hostility between students and law enforcement agents, undermining community policing efforts.
While condemning criminality in all its forms, NANS stressed that the actions of a few unprofessional officers were damaging the image of the Nigeria Police Force.
The association called for stricter internal discipline against erring officers, increased public enlightenment on students’ rights, functional complaint channels for victims of police misconduct and deployment of professional officers to campus environments.
Special attention was drawn to the security situation at Gateway Polytechnic, Saapade (GAPOSA), Ogun State, where NANS reported repeated incidents of armed robbery, threats to lives and insecurity around student hostels and surrounding communities.
The delegation said inadequate police presence and delayed response to distress calls had worsened the situation, leaving students in fear.
They appealed for urgent deployment of additional personnel to the Saapade axis, intensified patrols, surveillance of crime flashpoints and consideration of a police post closer to the institution.
Responding, the Zone 2 Police PPRO commended the NANS leadership for its constructive approach and commitment to peaceful engagement.
He reaffirmed the police’s constitutional duty to protect lives and property, including students, and assured that the concerns raised would be escalated to the Assistant Inspector General of Police and relevant operational units.
The PPRO said allegations of extortion and misconduct would be taken seriously, while continuous engagement with student bodies would be encouraged to improve intelligence sharing and accountability.
He advised students to utilise official complaint channels, promptly report suspicious activities and avoid self-help.
At the end of the meeting, both parties agreed to strengthen communication between NANS South-West and the Zone 2 Police Command, organise joint campus sensitisation programmes, urgently follow up on the security situation at GAPOSA and promote professionalism, human rights and mutual trust in police–student relations.
NANS South-West reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful advocacy, student discipline and constructive collaboration with security agencies, while pledging to continue speaking out against extortion, abuse of power and injustice against Nigerian students.