Protest: police deny killings as FUOYE announces indefinite closure

The Ekiti police command on Wednesday dismissed the claim that its personnel had killed some students of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), who protested against epileptic power supply to the institution.

The protest on Tuesday had led to the suspension of the tour of the 16 local government areas by Bisi Fayemi, wife of the state governor, by one day, while the university authorities had announced the indefinite closure of the school.

The institution’s authorities had proscribed the students union body, while the tour of the local councils by the governor’s wife continues on September 12.

Caleb Ikechukwu, the state police public relations officer (PPRO), however, said that he was not aware of any death emanating from the students protests.

In a statement released, Ikechukwu described the death story as “baseless, unfounded and only intends to incite and create panic in the minds of the peace-loving people of Ekiti and the general public”.

He noted that a weapon was recovered from one of the protesting students, adding that the quick intervention of the police at the scene prevented further damage to public and private properties.

“The police officers at the scene pacified the protesting students, removed the blockade they erected and dispersed them peacefully,” he said.

“However, the protesting students turned around in their numbers and took their plight to Her Excellency, Mrs Bisi Fayemi, the wife of Gov. Kayode Fayemi, who was at an empowerment programme in the town.

“The protesting students suddenly became unruly, hostile and took laws into their hands, and vandalised the motorcade of the governors wife.

“The protesting students did not stop at that, they also assaulted the policemen who were at the scene to maintain law and order, and damaged police vehicle found at the scene.

“Investigation is ongoing to bring the perpetrators to book.”

Meanwhile, Kayode Soremekun, the institution’s vice-chancellor, has announced the immediate closure of the institution and proscription of the students’ union government (SUG).

He also issued a statement to that effect.

“The unfortunate incident acted out by the students forced the authorities of the Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) to announce the immediate and indefinite closure of the university, to forestall further breakdown of law and order,” the statement read.

“In the same vein, the students union of the institution is hereby disbanded indefinitely.

“Following this closure, the students population are hereby ordered to vacate the university premises not later than 10.00 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2019.

“Further developments will be communicated in due course.”

The university condemned the violence that followed the protest by the students against the epileptic power supply to the community.

“Our findings revealed that the students gathered themselves and blocked the Abuja-Ado and Ijan-Ikole highways from the early hours of Tuesday till about 2.00 p.m.,” it added.

“After much persuasions by the university ‘s internal security personnel and the federal security agencies, they dispersed.

“Only for the news to get to the university authority thereafter that the students had assaulted the motorcade of Mrs Bisi Fayemi and vandalised some vehicles in the motorcade.”

“Sensing that her excellency was under attack, in view of the continued aggression of the students, the security personnel attached to her convoy had to repel the attack and some students were injured in the process.

“In view of the foregoing, the management at an emergency meeting discussed and reviewed the unruly behaviour of the students.

“Such behaviour, which included the destruction of vehicles and burning of a police van, as well as threat to lives, compelled the university management to take these urgent decisions.”