The Lagos State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students has expressed appreciation to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, AIG Adegoke Fayoade, for facilitating the release of Lagos State University student Mercy Attadada, who was allegedly arrested following a petition filed by her landlord.
In a statement released on Tuesday and jointly signed by the NANS JCC Lagos State Chairman, Abdul-Raheem Abdul-Quadri, and the chapter’s Public Relations Officer, Ridwan Ajayi, the student body described the petition that led to Attadada’s arrest as “malicious and deceptive.”
According to the statement, Attadada had previously filed a complaint at the Igando Police Division against her landlord for alleged harassment and intimidation, which he reportedly ignored.
The association explained that instead of responding to the complaint, the landlord escalated the matter to the Zone 2 Police Command in Onikan, Lagos, where a petition led to Attadada’s arrest on Friday, July 18, 2025.
“NANS Lagos strongly condemns the irresponsible actions and calculated inaction of a landlord whose deceptive petition led to the unjust arrest of a LASU student, Mercy Attadada,” the statement read.
The group noted that it was alerted to the situation by the Lagos State University Students’ Union and immediately took action, reaching out to AIG Fayoade and demanding the student’s release.
Thanks to the prompt intervention by both NANS and LASUSU, Attadada was granted bail by 6 a.m. the next day.
“This deeply troubling case, which initially surfaced on social media, reveals a pattern of deliberate harassment.
“The student had earlier taken appropriate legal steps by reporting her landlord for intimidation and harassment at the Igando Police Division.
“Unfortunately, the landlord blatantly refused to honour police invitations and instead exploited his access to law enforcement by filing a misleading petition at Zone 2 with the clear intention of manipulating police authority to punish the student and silence her. This action led to the unfortunate and forceful arrest of the student on Friday, 18th July 2025, by operatives of Zone 2.
“Upon receiving credible information from the leadership of LASU Students’ Union (LASUSU), NANS Lagos Chairman immediately swung into action. The leadership of the association promptly reached out to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, AIG Adegoke M. Fayoade, and made a passionate case for the urgent release of the wrongly detained student.
“We are proud to report that following this intervention, and in cooperation with LASUSU, the student was released on bail at approximately 6:00 am the following morning,” the statement read.
To further address the matter, AIG Fayoade convened a follow-up meeting on Monday, which involved all key stakeholders, including the landlord, the student and her parents, LASUSU representatives, police officials, and NANS Lagos executives.
During the meeting, he ordered that the case be transferred to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police for a thorough investigation.
“We commend AIG Adegoke M. Fayoade for his fatherly, professional, and student-sensitive intervention, which not only ensured the student’s release but also restored confidence in the police,” the association said.
NANS Lagos issued a stern warning against using police authority to harass students and insisted that such abuse would no longer be tolerated.
The group also called for a proper investigation into the landlord’s actions and emphasized that filing a false petition should be treated as a criminal offense.
“Nigerian students cannot and will not be intimidated or oppressed with impunity. Justice must prevail,” NANS stated.
