Armed soldiers were deployed on Thursday to break up a student demonstration at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko in Ondo State, after protesters blocked major roads over a months-long industrial action.
The students of AAUA took to the streets to demand that the Ondo State Government resolve the ongoing strike by university unions. The action involves ASUU, and JAC — a coalition of SSANU, NASU and NAAT — which has shut down academic activities across state-owned institutions in the state.
Video footage seen by SaharaReporters showed soldiers in camouflage uniforms chasing students along roads around the campus. Despite patrol vehicles stationed in the area, many students held their ground, carrying placards with messages like “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.” The protesters were calling for the implementation of union agreements and the payment of salary arrears.
It is not yet clear if anyone was injured or arrested during the confrontation.
The 18th General Secretary of the AAUA Students’ Union, Tolulope Adeyefa, condemned the military’s involvement. In posts on X, he described the move as unacceptable and said force should not be used against peaceful protesters.
“The report that Nigerian Army officers disrupted the peaceful protest by AAUA students today over Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s failure to end the prolonged ASUU strike is very condemnable,” Adeyefa wrote, sharing clips of the encounter.
He praised students for standing firm and urged the state government to meet with the unions instead.
“For a university under combined ASUU, SSANU, NASU and NAAT action, the right response is for the Ondo State Government to end the strike now,” he added. “I hope Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa listens to the students’ demands so they can return to class without further delay.”
The protest adds to rising tension in Ondo’s tertiary institutions, with student leaders pressing the governor to intervene and restore academic activities.
