TASUED shut as student dies over clash with host community

Students have exited campus at Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ogun state for fear of a reprisal attack following a clash with one of the institution’s host communities.

Disturbance, TheCable understands, broke out within the university community over the death of a 300-level student who became a victim of the conflict on Saturday night.

Dapo Oke, the registrar at TASUED, issued a memo to the students on Sunday where he ordered that they evacuate campus for at least two weeks until the conflict subsides.

He said the crisis began after a clash ensued between the Imaweje axis of TASUED’s host community and students.

The registrar said this led to the death of a 300-level student and a retaliatory burning down of the palace of the Imaweje monarch.

“The vice-chancellor has, in view of the present situation, asked the security agents to move in to arrest the situation, maintain law and order, and prevent further loss of life and property,” Oke’s memo reads.

“The management has also considered the need to close down the university to forestall reprisal attacks and prevent further breakdown of law and order in the communities of Ijagun, Abapawa, Ijele, and Imaweje.

“The management has therefore announced the closure of the university for two weeks.

“An emergency meeting of the senate is being called for Tuesday, 30th May 2023 to review the situation and take further necessary actions.”

Videos sent to TheCable show security operatives arresting unidentified persons loitering in the affected areas.

A student source told TheCable that there had been pre-existing tension between the students and the Imaweje community over cultism allegations that often led to the arrest of some students plying that axis of the institution.

Bashiru Bisoye, director for planning at the National Association of University Students (NAUS) who is from TASUED, said the latest tension sparked after one of such cases led to a clash that claimed a student’s life.

“The monarch has been getting students arrested in that area. A clash broke out recently and a student died. This escalated. It got everyone pissed off. Some unidentified students went to burn the monarch’s house,” he said.