Students of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) on Thursday, protested the rising rate of robberies suffered in their living areas.
The students erected roadblocks on various roads in Abeokuta demanding that the school authority and security operatives secure their lives and property.
A student of the university who pleaded anonymity told TheCable Lifestyle that the robberies started months ago.
“The robberies started with those that were staying off campus so we did not take it serious.
“The students that were staying at Camp (an off campus location) were the first to complain about the robberies. Later, the robbers started moving closer to the school.
“At a point, the student union started encouraging students to do security patrols. The protest was peaceful until the policemen came and started using teargas and bullets on us.”
Abisoye Taiwo, a 100-level student of wildlife and forestry, was injured in the protest and is currently responding to treatment at the Federal Medical centre, Idi Aba, Abeokuta.
A church headed by Prof Olusola Oyewole, the vice chancellor of the university, was vandalized while cars and a police post at Osiele were also set ablaze.
Efforts to reach the student union executives of the university proved futile however, various comments were made by the students on various social media platforms.
We won't take Dis injustice
We protest peacefully and you shot @ us
Why
Why
Why@PoliceNG #SaveFunaab#Save Funaab
#SaveFunaab— ادريس Olajide (@idris2inc) August 18, 2016
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Do you expect the student to keep mute?
Ladies are raped, Guys injured, and robbed of their valuables
the time to #SaveFunaab is now!— Apata Babajide (@Apatarock) August 18, 2016
#SaveFunaab 150 and still counting why the arrest Nigerian Police Force
— Laue (@maytheuhaydey) August 18, 2016
Bullet and tear gas casing used @omojuwa @amosun #SaveFunaab pic.twitter.com/yaeM12uCOR
Advertisement— I.G:HOLUMIEDE (@holumiede) August 18, 2016
The management of the institution has directed all students to embark on a seven-day leave effective from Thursday.
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FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, ABEOKUTA
August 18, 2016
Press Release
FUNAAB Declares Mid-Semester Break
The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has declared a 7-day mid-semester break for the Second Semester, 2015/2016 Academic Session with effect from Thursday, August 18, 2016. This is to enable the university to put additional welfare and security arrangements in place, to further support the initiatives of the Federal and State Governments, towards the protection of lives and properties of its citizens, particularly, members of staff and students of the university.
As part of the efforts towards ensuring a safe haven for members of the University community, amidst the security challenges presently facing some parts of our country, Nigeria, FUNAAB has partnered with the Ogun State Commissioner of Police and the Director, State Security Service (SSS), to uphold safety of lives and property of staff and students living within the school environs, following Armed Robbery reports received by students residing in Isolu, a community situated close to the University, which is highly populated by staff and students of FUNAAB.
To this end, the University’s Security Team, in collaboration with the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) from Odeda and Obantoko areas, both in Abeokuta, Ogun State, often take turns, on a daily basis, to patrol the University environs at night. The University Management has also encouraged the various communities to embrace community policing and vigilante services, to support the efforts of the Police and the SSS.
It is also important to note that students are properly scrutinized during the University’s screening exercise after the Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, to pro-actively ensure that candidates with questionable characters are not admitted into the University. Students have also been cautioned to live a low profile life, avoid attracting unnecessary attention to themselves, be alert, be vigilant about happenings in their surroundings and be free to contact the University’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), in case they notice any strange movement or occurrence around their vicinities.
Towards ensuring that all students reside within the University campus, provision of accommodation is also on the the front-burner of the University. Aside the existing campus hostels which the University had been able to build within its limited resources. FUNAAB has also been able to get well-meaning Nigerians; the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), through its Special Intervention Fund; private organisations; and generous individuals to build additional hostels within the University, which are currently at various stages of completion.
Additionally, the University Management has directed that all lectures do not exceed 6pm daily, to allow students get to their homes before dark, while the University transportation services is always available to convey students, who reside outside the campus, close to their destinations.
Meanwhile, contrary to reports being circulated by certain media, it is pertinent to state that the University did not lose anyone during the recent unrest by students of the University. Rather, the only student, who was hurt when he engaged a Police Officer in a scuffle, is currently receiving attention at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.
Attention has also been drawn to reports on the invitation extended to some Principal Officers of the University by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). As public officers as well as responsible and law abiding citizens, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole and the Bursar, Mr. Moses Ilesanmi have since honored the invitation by the anti-graft agency, to make clarifications on issues bordering on the administration of the University.
The University Management assures that the situation is under control, as normal administrative activities continue unabatedly.
Directorate of Public Relations (DPR),
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, Nigeria.