UNILESA graduate arrest controversy erupts after protest over NYSC mobilisation delay, drawing student backlash and university denial

Controversy has erupted following the reported arrest of Adedoyin Temitope, a graduate linked to the University of Ilesa, after staging a protest over alleged delays in his mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps.

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UNILESA graduate arrest controversy intensified after reports claimed that Temitope, also known as Matuwo or Aregbe, was taken into custody by operatives of the Nigeria Police and subsequently moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Osogbo.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Temitope, described as a Geography graduate, had waited for over two years to be mobilised for national service.

The source alleged that the delay stemmed from discrepancies in his Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board registration details, which reportedly complicated his eligibility for mobilisation.

The situation is said to have escalated after the graduate returned to the campus to press his demands.

He allegedly staged a protest and locked down the Senate building of the institution in a bid to draw attention to his case after what was described as repeated unsuccessful attempts to resolve the issue through official channels.

The development has drawn strong reactions from the National Association of University Students, which condemned the reported arrest and described the incident as an act of intimidation.

The students’ body insisted that no individual should face punitive measures for peacefully demanding access to their rights and called for immediate intervention.

In a formal statement, the association urged the university leadership to investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrest and facilitate a resolution that would enable the graduate to proceed with his mobilisation process.

The group also warned that further steps could be taken if the matter remains unresolved.

However, the University of Ilesa has rejected the claims surrounding the incident, describing them as misleading.

In a statement issued by Registrar Funso Ojo, the institution clarified that it had not yet graduated its first set of students, noting that its pioneer cohort admitted in 2023 are still in their academic progression.

The university further explained that the individual in question completed his studies under the former Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, which was affiliated with the University of Ibadan prior to the establishment of the University of Ilesa.

It added that matters relating to his mobilisation were tied to JAMB admission regularisation, a process it said falls outside its direct control.

The institution maintained that it has continued to engage relevant stakeholders through its Student Affairs Division in an effort to provide guidance and support towards resolving the issue.

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The UNILESA graduate arrest controversy has since sparked wider debate on student welfare, administrative bottlenecks and the processes governing NYSC mobilisation across tertiary institutions in Nigeria.