By Peter Omopo
Akungba Akoko, Ondo State – July 27, 2025
Tension gripped the university town of Akungba Akoko on Saturday as students of Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA) and members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) staged a massive protest over the recent spate of killings involving students of the institution.
The demonstrators took to the streets, demanding justice following the alleged murder of one of their colleagues, Joy Adeyemi, a student in the Department of Human Kinetics, who was reportedly killed by her boyfriend, said to be an indigene of the town. The suspect is currently on the run.
The protest comes barely three weeks after two other students — Andrel Okah of the Department of History and International Studies, and John Abba of the Department of Economics — were reportedly abducted and killed. Police have arrested some suspects in that case, although the alleged ringleader reportedly died in custody.
Chanting solidarity songs and holding placards that read “Stop Killing Us, AAUA Students,” “Say No to Students’ Killing,” and “Government Must Act Now,” the angry students demanded urgent intervention from the Ondo State Government and security agencies.
One protester, identified simply as Kunle, narrated the grim discovery of Joy Adeyemi’s body:
“She had been missing since Tuesday. The neighbours noticed a foul smell from the room and alerted us. That’s when we found her — stabbed and left to rot. Her boyfriend fled with the money she used to run her PoS business. This is not the first time our students are being killed in this town.”
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Joint Campus Committee condemned the killings in strong terms, issuing a 24-hour ultimatum to authorities.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Adekanye Adeboye, and Secretary, Oladele Emmanuel, NANS demanded:
“The immediate arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators, urgent implementation of security measures, and assurance of student safety in and around AAUA.”
Confirming the incident, Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Olayinka Ayanlade, said three suspects had already been arrested while efforts were underway to apprehend others linked to the killing.
Reacting to the tension, Head of Media and Protocol at AAUA, Mr. Victor Akinpelumi, appealed for calm, urging students not to take laws into their hands.
“We understand their pain and grief. But we must allow the police to carry out a full investigation and bring the culprits to justice,” he said.
As investigations continue, fears persist among students and residents that failure to act swiftly may spark deeper unrest in the university community.
