Students affiliated with the National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS) have blocked the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in protest over the disappearance of Quadri Adedamola Ogunbode, a 2024 graduate of Lagos State University (LASU), Ojoo.
The demonstration brought traffic to a standstill in both directions, leaving many commuters stranded for hours.
Holding placards and banners, the students chanted protest songs and demanded justice, urging the police to uncover the circumstances behind the disappearance of Ogunbode, who is also an indigene of Ogun State.
Ogunbode, a Political Education graduate of LASU, was reported missing on 17 February 2025 near a Celestial Church close to the university.
According to a preliminary police investigation, two suspects, including the Shepherd in charge of the Celestial Church, were arrested and questioned.
Speaking to journalists after the protest, NAOSS National President, Kehinde Thomas, stated that the demonstration was organised to express solidarity with the missing student, who was a member of the association.
He explained that the protest was held on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to attract the attention of the Inspector General of Police, stressing that NAOSS was dissatisfied with the slow pace of the investigation.
Thomas added that since the incident occurred, Ogunbode’s parents, especially his mother, had been in distress and emotional turmoil. He insisted that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) must take over the case, which he claimed had been unnecessarily delayed.
“We, the leaders and members of NAOSS, along with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Stakeholders in the state, are here this morning with heavy hearts. Heavy hearts, because one of our members and a graduate of Lagos State University, Ojoo, Quadri Ogunbode, is missing and, as we fear, may no longer be alive.
“Quadri, a determined, hardworking, and level-headed Nigerian, vanished under mysterious circumstances on 17 February 2025, just seconds after speaking to his girlfriend on the phone. Our findings indicate that this incident took place near a Celestial Church in the LASU Community in Lagos.
“We have temporarily blocked this major expressway to draw the attention of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, an indigene of Ogun State, to intervene and order a special investigation into the alleged abduction and possible murder of Quadri Ogunbode.
“This appeal to the IGP, himself a parent, has become necessary due to perceived police negligence and compromise.
“Quadri was a member of NAOSS, and we are earnestly urging the IGP to leverage his office, personnel, and technology to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of this well-mannered and brilliant LASU graduate.
“We are not criminals; we are students lawfully demanding justice and rejecting any police misconduct in this case.
“As the representative body of all Ogun State students, NAOSS cannot stand by and allow this matter to be ignored. We refuse to let Quadri’s case become yet another unresolved disappearance or murder in the country.
“While we remain hopeful that the IGP’s intervention will yield results, NAOSS will persist in taking every lawful step necessary to mobilise key stakeholders to take action on this issue.
“The distress and emotional trauma faced by Quadri’s parents are unimaginable.
“We appreciate the press for their role in uncovering the truth about this matter, and we pledge that our association will not relent until justice is served. Remember, an injury to one is an injury to all,” Thomas said.
The Celestial Church has been under investigation after suspicions arose that it was the location where the missing youth was allegedly killed and buried.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed that the church had been sealed, explaining that the action was taken based on intelligence suggesting that some individuals might attempt to set it ablaze in retaliation.
Hundeyin stated that the church, now a suspected crime scene, was being preserved to support further investigation.
“The church was sealed following intelligence reports indicating that some individuals were planning to burn it down out of vengeance, and we want to prevent such actions,” Hundeyin said during a briefing at the police command headquarters in Ikeja.
“It remains a suspected crime scene, and we need to revisit it multiple times to gather further evidence.”
The PPRO further disclosed that three individuals, including the church’s pastor, were in police custody. Efforts were underway to apprehend five other suspects, two of whom were believed to be in the Benin Republic.
“We have three suspects, the pastor and two others, in custody, and the case is being handled by the State Criminal Investigation Department,” Hundeyin stated.
The case, initially treated as a missing person investigation, has now been reclassified as a suspected murder. According to Hundeyin, funds were transferred from Ogunbode’s bank account to those of several suspects, prompting a shift in the focus of the inquiry.
“The investigation has been intensified to locate the victim’s body and establish the full circumstances of his death.
“Among the five suspects who received money from the victim’s account, three have been arrested and are currently in police custody,” he added.
In a related development, Hundeyin revealed that Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, had assured the public that a thorough investigation was underway. He also urged restraint to prevent actions that could disrupt the investigative process.
“CP Jimoh has assured the public that the command is fully committed to resolving this case and bringing the perpetrators to justice,” Hundeyin said.
The tragic incident has sparked strong reactions within the community, with Ogunbode’s peers and residents calling for swift justice.
Authorities have pledged to keep the public informed on the progress of the investigation.
This distressing development follows a series of similar incidents, prompting local groups, including student associations, to demand that law enforcement step up efforts to combat violent crime and ensure justice for victims.
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