A 200-level student of Lagos State University (LASU), Arazeem Rodiat, has narrated how she and other residents were allegedly arrested during a dawn operation in Lagos and later made to pay heavy sums for bail after being accused of waste-related offences they say they knew nothing about.
The incident, according to her account, happened around 5 a.m. on May 7, 2026, when uniformed officials stormed a residence at Oral Estate, Lagos, reportedly banging on doors and ordering tenants to come out.
Rodiat said she initially thought it was a routine sanitation enforcement exercise, similar to a previous visit, but the situation escalated when she saw a bus stationed outside the compound and was told she and others were being taken to court over alleged debts linked to the property.
She explained that most of the adults believed to be responsible for rent and waste-related payments had fled the scene, leaving students behind.
Only a few tenants, including herself and neighbours, were taken away in the bus.
According to her, additional students were later picked up from another building and joined the group, bringing the total to four detainees, including three females and one male.
Rodiat alleged that the group was transported to Badagry, where they were brought before a court and accused of occupying a property that owed waste management fees. She said they all pleaded not guilty, insisting they were unaware of any debt issues.
Despite their pleas, she claimed the court imposed bail conditions of ₦100,000 each. She further alleged that an additional ₦100,000 was added to her own bail after she protested against how she was treated during the arrest, bringing her total to ₦200,000.
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She also recounted a confrontation with a police officer, claiming she was forcibly dragged into a detention room, an incident she said was captured on video and shown in court without any disciplinary response.
The student further alleged that detainees were warned they could be transferred to Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison if they failed to raise bail money quickly.
She said this caused panic among the students, who began reaching out to family members and school representatives for assistance.
Rodiat expressed frustration that support from student union representatives and other officials was delayed, claiming that meaningful intervention only came hours later.
She also said some male detainees, including a LASU student, were eventually taken to prison in a Black Maria vehicle after bail arrangements stalled.
According to her, the ordeal lasted nearly 12 hours, during which no food or water was provided. She added that different families paid varying amounts ranging from ₦50,000 to ₦120,000 to secure the release of the students.
Rodiat described the experience as traumatic and unfair, insisting that students were being punished for issues she believes should have been directed at landlords or property managers.
She concluded by criticizing what she described as systemic neglect and excessive force, warning that such experiences highlight deeper issues in how young Nigerians are treated during law enforcement operations.
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