NANS Lagos Demands Probe into Ojo Police Over LASU Graduate’s Murder

The Lagos State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students Joint Campus Council has called for a thorough investigation into the Ojo Police Division, accusing officers of negligence, extortion, and mishandling the murder case of Adedamola Ogunbode, a 2024 Lagos State University graduate. The demand, directed at Commissioner of Police Olohundare Jimoh, comes amid outrage over the division’s initial dismissal of the case as a missing person incident despite early signs pointing to foul play.

Ogunbode, a Political Science Education graduate, vanished on January 16, 2025. His disappearance sparked concern, with suspicions later confirmed when evidence suggested he had been murdered. The police recently arrested three suspects and are pursuing five others, shifting the case to a suspected murder investigation after public pressure mounted. The students praised the commissioner for stepping in but condemned the Ojo Police Division for its sluggish response, alleging a possible cover-up tainted by corruption.

In their statement, the student leaders claimed Ogunbode’s parents faced repeated extortion by officers while seeking answers, only to have their pleas ignored. They suspect the division may have been compromised, potentially accepting bribes from the perpetrators or a criminal network, which could explain the initial reluctance to investigate properly. The union pointed to a pattern of failure, citing the unresolved 2021 murder of a fellow student outside the university as evidence of the division’s incompetence in handling student-related cases.

The students’ demands are clear and urgent. They want the commissioner to suspend and prosecute any officers found guilty of negligence or collusion. They also insist on a refund of all money allegedly extorted from Ogunbode’s family, who endured financial exploitation alongside their grief. Additionally, they called for the extradition of two key suspects believed to have fled to Cotonou, Benin Republic, urging the police to collaborate with international authorities to ensure all involved face justice.

The stakes are high, and the students have issued a stern ultimatum. If their demands are not met, they threaten to mobilize for a mass protest at the Ojo Police Station, signaling their frustration with what they see as systemic injustice. For them, Ogunbode’s case is a breaking point—a test of whether the police will finally deliver accountability. As the investigation unfolds, the student community watches closely, determined to see justice served for their fallen colleague and to end what they describe as a cycle of neglect and corruption.