The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Southwest Zone (Zone D), has issued a strict 24-hour ultimatum to the Osun State Police Command, demanding the immediate court arraignment or unconditional release of Comrade Bukola Alalade, popularly known as “Machiavelli.”
​The student body issued the directive following the continued detention of Alalade, who was reportedly picked up by officers of the Osun State Police Command under circumstances the student union described as arbitrary and unlawful.
​In a joint official statement issued in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, student leaders expressed deep concern over what they termed a violation of the activist’s fundamental human rights, noting that his detention beyond the constitutionally stipulated timeframe without charge is unacceptable.
​The joint statement was signed by: Comrade Adeyemo Josiah –Coordinator, NANS Southwest Zone (Zone D), Comrade Ojetola Babatunde –General Secretary, NANS Southwest Zone and Comrade Olugbemi Timothy, the Public Relations Officer, NANS Southwest Zone.
​According to the leadership of NANS Southwest, the police must act swiftly to respect the rule of law and statutory constitutional limits governing suspect detention.
​”We are giving the Osun State Police Command an ultimatum of 24 hours to either charge Comrade Bukola Alalade (Machiavelli) to a court of competent jurisdiction or release him unconditionally. Failure to comply will leave the student movement with no choice but to mobilize across the region,” the statement read in part.
​NANS Southwest warned that if the 24-hour deadline lapses without compliance from the police, the association will coordinate massive peaceful protests across Osun State and neighboring Southwest states to demand justice for the detainee.
​As of the time of filing this report, the Osun State Police Command has yet to issue an official response regarding the ultimatum or clarify the specific charges leveled against Comrade Alalade.
