The Senior Special Assistant to Oyo State Governor on Students’ Affairs, Hon. Victor Dideoluwa Olojede, has denied allegations linking him to acts of violence during recent protests over the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, insisting that his actions throughout the demonstrations were aimed at maintaining peace and order.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Olojede said he had actively participated in efforts to support calls for the safe return of the abducted pupils, describing the incident as painful and one that has deeply affected him as a public official responsible for students’ welfare.
According to him, he joined protesters on Monday during their march from Mokola through Agodi Gate and Total Garden to the Oyo State Government Secretariat, where he intervened on several occasions to prevent violence and maintain order. He said he cautioned protesters against harassing commercial motorcyclists and other commuters and also persuaded them to allow a truck carrying gas cylinders to pass in order to avoid a potential safety hazard.
The governor’s aide further disclosed that his intervention contributed to the reopening of blocked roads later that day, adding that he also provided bottled water to some protesters in a bid to promote calm and prevent tensions from escalating.
Olojede explained that on Tuesday, he accompanied the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on a visit to Oriire Local Government Area following a meeting between Governor Seyi Makinde and representatives of NANS, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) at the State Secretariat.
He alleged that while the student leaders and hundreds of students were en route to visit the affected communities, a disagreement broke out between some protesters and the NANS leadership over plans to block a road.
According to him, the situation later degenerated into a confrontation during which he attempted to separate the parties and prevent injuries.
The SSA said he was surprised by subsequent allegations that he brandished a firearm and ordered attacks on individuals, describing the claims as false, malicious and unsupported by evidence. He maintained that he has never handled a firearm and challenged those making the allegations to provide proof.
Olojede also stated that he assisted one of the protesters in recovering a seized camera during the demonstration, arguing that the action reflected his neutrality and commitment to fairness.
While expressing concern over what he described as attempts to tarnish his image, he called on Nigerians to uphold the principle of fair hearing and avoid spreading unverified claims. He reaffirmed his support for efforts aimed at securing the release of the abducted pupils and teachers and pledged continued cooperation with all stakeholders working towards their safe return.
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