OAU shut indefinitely amid protest over student’s death

The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has announced the indefinite closure of the institution amid a protest over the death of Omowumi Aisat Adesina, a final-year student of the institution.

Abiodun Olarewaju, the varsity’s spokesman, broke the news in a statement on Friday.

The development comes hours after students of the institution staged a peaceful demonstration over the circumstances that led to the demise of their colleague.

According to the statement, the varsity said the measure became imperative to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

The institution also said while the outcry of the students is understandable, it would not tolerate the uncontrolled protests and attempts to disrupt activities by blocking major roads.

The varsity directed the students to vacate their hostels latest by 12 pm on Saturday.

It also suspended the proposed swearing-in of the newly elected students’ union officials pending a review of the incident.

“…management condemns in strong terms the continuous and uncontrolled protests by the students culminating in unbridled brigandage, blocking the Ife/Ibadan and Ife/Ede highways and other adjoining roads that could be used as alternative routes, and engaging in other acts that are detrimental to their health and the safety of the generality of the people,” it read.

“Therefore, having exhausted all necessary avenues to call the students to order and allow normalcy to return to the Campus and its environs, the authorities of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, have accordingly closed down the School until further notice. This is to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

“In view of this, all students are hereby directed to vacate their halls of residence and the campus latest by 12:00 noon on Saturday, 2nd October 2021.

“Consequently, the swearing-in of the newly elected Students’ Union officials has been put on hold, pending a review of the situation.

“In the meantime, the university management has put in place the machinery to unravel the circumstances surrounding the immediate and remote cause(s) of the crisis.”