The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, said
four policemen have been hospitalised following the injuries they sustained
during a clash with students of the Federal College of Agriculture, Moor
Plantation, Apata, Ibadan, Oyo State on Monday. Odude added that eight police
vans were also damaged in the clash.
The students had trooped to the Ibadan-Abeokuta road as
early as 6.30am, blocking the main road linking Oyo and Ogun states, with many
road users forced to take alternative routes to their destinations.
It was learnt that the school’s rector invited the Police
when the students blocked the main road.
The students were said to be protesting against the school’s
management, specifically calling for the removal of the Provost of the school,
Dr. Babajide Adenekan.
They said the call became imperative following alleged
disagreement between Adenekan and members of the school’s Academic Staff Union
of Polytechnic, Non Academic Staff Union and the Senior Staff Association of
Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated
Institutions.
A lecturer in the school who pleaded anonymity because he
was not authorised to speak on behalf of the other staff members, said the
issue had been on for more than a year.
The source said, “There has been clashes between the provost
and lecturers of the school.
“Some lecturers have been suspended and reinstated, while
some claimed their allowances were withheld by the provost illegally. The
claims are many.
“But this time, the students decided to express their
grievances over the provost’s administrative style, which they blamed for the
several strikes and unnecessary delays in the school’s academic calendar. They
are also calling for the removal of the provost.”
The students claimed that the police shot at them during the
protest, with some of them allegedly sustaining gunshot injuries.
They also claimed that a lecturer was injured in the melee.
While revealing that the Police had arrested five students
for their involvement in the clash, Odude confirmed that there had been several
meetings between the school authority, the students and the Police on how to
resolve the unending crisis in the school.
“It has been an off and on situation. We have been on this
for the past six months, meeting them and trying to resolve the issue. We have
met the students’ union leaders and the school authority.
“We told the students that they should limit their union
activities within the school because once you deprive others the use of public
facility, you are against the law.
“Today (Monday), they blocked the main road during protest
and we sent policemen there, but they became violent and attacked the
policemen.
“Four of them were injured and they are now in hospital.
Eight police vans were also destroyed.
“We have to use force to push them back into the school.
Being students does not confer the liberty to break laws.
“Those who were arrested will be charged to court after due
investigation,” Odude said.
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