Eyitope Ogunbodede, the vice-chancellor (VC) of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), was on Monday attacked in the company of some journalists and the institution’s management staff members.
Abiodun Olanrewaju, the varsity’s spokesperson, confirmed the attack to TheCable Lifestyle on Tuesday.
In April 2019, OAU’s management had petitioned the commissioner of police in Osun state and the office of the director of state security service, accusing some individuals of poisoning the dam that supplies water to its campus.
The varsity attributed its claims to the activities of those it described as “land-grabbers”.
It also alleged that the attackers forcefully gained access to the dam by overpowering the security officer on duty whom it identified as O.A Omotosho.
Olanrewaju said the VC caught wind of a fresh land encroachment attempt in Ile-Ife, OAU’s host community.
He said the VC, management staff, and some journalists moved to visit the place on Monday to unravel “the truth”.
The PRO also disclosed that armed individuals launched an attack on the VC’s team at the site, forcing them to back down.
“An encroachment was reported to the VC and he decided to examine it. We didn’t want to take things for granted, so we invited the press to accompany us there. There were both the broadcast and print media,” Olanrewaju said.
“On our way there, we were waylayed; physically attacked and assaulted with guns, machetes, cutlasses axes, and other dangerous weapons. They dared the VC to step down if he wouldn’t be killed. For safety, we left.
“We don’t want to discuss how we’d be pursuing this case but we will go public when the time comes.”
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