Controversy has erupted following the reported arrest of a graduate linked to the University of Ilesa (UNILESA), Osun State, over a protest against prolonged delay in his mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The graduate, identified as Adedoyin Temitope, popularly known as Matuwo or Aregbe, was allegedly arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police after staging a protest on campus to demand inclusion in the NYSC mobilisation list.
According to sources familiar with the situation, Temitope, a Geography graduate, has reportedly waited for over two years after completing his academic programme without being mobilised, while many of his peers have already completed their service year.
The delay was reportedly linked to discrepancies in his registration details with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Specifically, it was claimed that his JAMB registration contained three initials instead of the standard two, a discrepancy said to have affected his mobilisation status.
Sources further alleged that the situation escalated when the institution informed him that he was neither eligible for mobilisation nor for an exemption certificate.
Frustrated by the development, Temitope reportedly returned to the campus and staged a protest, allegedly locking down the university’s Senate building in an attempt to draw the attention of the management after exhausting other channels.
His actions reportedly led to his arrest after the institution contacted security operatives. He was subsequently said to have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Osogbo.
The incident has since drawn condemnation from the National Association of University Students (NAUS), which described the arrest as an act of intimidation.
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In a statement issued by its Osun State Chairman, Comrade Adeleke Samson, the association criticized the alleged maltreatment of the graduate, stressing that no student should face harassment for peacefully demanding their rights.
NAUS called on the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Taiwo Asaolu, and the management to urgently investigate the matter and facilitate the graduate’s mobilisation.
The association also warned that further action may be taken if the issue remains unresolved.
However, the University of Ilesa has dismissed reports surrounding the incident as misleading.
In a statement signed by its Registrar, Funso Ojo, the institution clarified that it is yet to graduate its first set of students, noting that its pioneer cohort admitted in 2023 are still in their third year.
The university explained that the individual in question completed his programme under the defunct Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, which was affiliated with the University of Ibadan before UNILESA was established.
According to the institution, the issues surrounding his NYSC mobilisation are tied to JAMB admission regularization a process it stated is beyond its direct control.
The management added that it has been engaging relevant stakeholders through its Student Affairs Division to provide guidance toward resolving the situation.
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