The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Lagos State chapter, has lauded Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2, AIG Adegoke Fayoade, for his prompt and principled intervention in securing the release of a Lagos State University (LASU) student who was unjustly detained.
The Arrest and Outcry
On 18 July 2025, LASU student Mercy Attadada (also reported as Attababa) was arrested by officers of Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos. The arrest followed a petition filed by her landlord—who, after being reported for harassment at Igando Police Division by Mercy, allegedly turned around and used a “malicious and deceptive petition” to manipulate police action against her .
NANS sharply condemned this abuse of power and “strongly condemned the irresponsible actions and calculated inaction of a landlord whose deceptive petition led to the unjust arrest” .
NANS & LASUSU Mobilise
Upon learning of the incident from LASU Students’ Union (LASUSU), NANS Lagos swiftly escalated their concerns to AIG Fayoade. They called for Mercy’s immediate release, citing the arrest as retaliation against her efforts to confront harassment .
AIG Fayoade’s Swift Response
Mercy was granted bail early the next morning, at approximately 6 a.m. on 19 July owing to the swift intervention of AIG Fayoade.
He personally convened a fact-finding hearing on Monday (21 July), inviting the landlord, the student and her parents, university student leaders, senior police officers, and a NANS Lagos delegate .
He promptly referred the case to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police for a further unbiased investigation .
Commendation from NANS and call for Justice
NANS Lagos praised AIG Fayoade for his “swift, student‑sensitive and fatherly intervention,” stating that his leadership “restored public confidence in law enforcement” . They also applauded LASUSU for playing a timely and decisive role in defending the student’s rights .
NANS called on the Nigerian Police Force to conduct a thorough investigation into the landlord’s motives. They demanded that false or malicious petitions leading to arrests be treated as criminal offenses, emphasizing that “justice must prevail” .
Why this is laudable and What to watch out for
This incident shines a light on how legal channels can be misused to intimidate vulnerable individuals, particularly students. Yet, it also demonstrates how swift and decisive action by student bodies and principled leadership within the police can deliver justice and uphold public trust.
With the case now under review by the Lagos Commissioner of Police, all eyes are on how the investigation progresses—and whether accountability will follow.