FUOYE- Peaceful Protest Turns Violent
By Adekunle T. Femi
Students of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) in the early hours on Tuesday staged a 'Peaceful Protest' to demonstrate their grief about the poor supply of power within the school community and outside.
The angry students blocked the entrance of the Oye and Ikole Campuses as they were seen with their placards of protest with different inscriptions such as; "We need light," "Say No to NEPAPHOBIA." The students took to the street with their song chats of "We need light" marched to the office of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) in Oye-Ekiti from the school gate, hindering the free flow of traffic and thereby obstructing passengers and motorist from using the Federal highway.
The major intention of the students was to decry the appalling state of the state's power distribution to the community. The former vice chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Ekiti State, Comrade Taiwo was reported to have declared the protest opened, saying the protest will continue until the government pays attention to their plight.
The President of the Student Union Government, Oluwaseun Awodola lamented about the poor power supply which has led to numerous cases of insecurity of the students.
He said "The generality of Oye is suffering from poor power supply. It came to our notice that our students are being molested in the night, our students are being beaten in the night, and our students are being gang robbed in the night because we don't have light. Everywhere in FUOYE is dark. Our students keep charging at filling station... We don't want mass death in FUOYE, what we want is a stable power supply. Today is a confrontational protest."
Mr Godfrey Bakare, the University's Public Relation Officer decries the action of the students with the claim that the school is not in charge of power supply and that the protest is a senseless move by the students.
Sources at Oye Ekiti alleged that the peaceful student protest was joined by thugs and hoodlums and commercial bike operators which in turn made the peaceful protest a community uproar, casting the community in utter pandemonium and tumult, as pictures and videos sent by sources confirmed the shootings in the community and state of the community.
According to sources, the office of the BEDC was burnt and their properties were vandalised. It was gathered that the police van on patrol was set on fire, causing a menace in the community, and it was alleged that a policeman was taken down.
Sources alleged that a 100 level student of the University, kehinde Oluwaseyi was gunned down by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and many other students were reportedly injured.
The Nigeria Police released a press release stating that the community should debunk the news, stating that the force shot at protesting students.
Students of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) in the early hours on Tuesday staged a 'Peaceful Protest' to demonstrate their grief about the poor supply of power within the school community and outside.
The angry students blocked the entrance of the Oye and Ikole Campuses as they were seen with their placards of protest with different inscriptions such as; "We need light," "Say No to NEPAPHOBIA." The students took to the street with their song chats of "We need light" marched to the office of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) in Oye-Ekiti from the school gate, hindering the free flow of traffic and thereby obstructing passengers and motorist from using the Federal highway.
The major intention of the students was to decry the appalling state of the state's power distribution to the community. The former vice chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Ekiti State, Comrade Taiwo was reported to have declared the protest opened, saying the protest will continue until the government pays attention to their plight.
The President of the Student Union Government, Oluwaseun Awodola lamented about the poor power supply which has led to numerous cases of insecurity of the students.
He said "The generality of Oye is suffering from poor power supply. It came to our notice that our students are being molested in the night, our students are being beaten in the night, and our students are being gang robbed in the night because we don't have light. Everywhere in FUOYE is dark. Our students keep charging at filling station... We don't want mass death in FUOYE, what we want is a stable power supply. Today is a confrontational protest."
Mr Godfrey Bakare, the University's Public Relation Officer decries the action of the students with the claim that the school is not in charge of power supply and that the protest is a senseless move by the students.
Sources at Oye Ekiti alleged that the peaceful student protest was joined by thugs and hoodlums and commercial bike operators which in turn made the peaceful protest a community uproar, casting the community in utter pandemonium and tumult, as pictures and videos sent by sources confirmed the shootings in the community and state of the community.
According to sources, the office of the BEDC was burnt and their properties were vandalised. It was gathered that the police van on patrol was set on fire, causing a menace in the community, and it was alleged that a policeman was taken down.
Sources alleged that a 100 level student of the University, kehinde Oluwaseyi was gunned down by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and many other students were reportedly injured.
The Nigeria Police released a press release stating that the community should debunk the news, stating that the force shot at protesting students.
POLICE PRESS RELEASE.
10/09/2019.
10/09/2019.
The Nigeria Police Force,Ekiti State Command is using this medium to debunk the story making rounds on social media that the police shot at protesting student of Federal University Oye Ekiti State.
The story is baseless, unfounded and only intends to incite and create panic in the minds of peace loving people of Ekiti State and the general public.
The story is baseless, unfounded and only intends to incite and create panic in the minds of peace loving people of Ekiti State and the general public.
2.The students of Federal University Oye/Ikole Campus led by their student Union Government simultaneously embarked on a protest against the total blackout in both campuses.
3.The protesting student took to the Federal High way away from the perimeter wall of University and Blocked the Oye-Ikole-Lokoja Federal Roads,their by causing the breach of Peace and grid lock to motorist plying that route.
4.The protesting students also invaded the office of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) in Oye Ekiti.
5.It took the quick intervention of policemen deployed to the scene to prevent further damage of the office complex.
6.The Police Officers at the scene pacified with the protesting student, removed the blockade and dispersed the protesting student peacefully.
7.However,the protesting student turned around in their numbers and took their plight to Her Excellence,Erule Bisi Fayemi, The Wife of the Executive Governor of Ekiti State who was at an empowerment program.
8. The protesting Student suddenly became unruly,hostile and took laws into their hands,also Vandalized the motorcade of her excellency.
9.The protesting student did not stop at that, they also assaulted the policemen who where at the scene to maintain law and order and damaged Police Vehicle
found at the Scene.
found at the Scene.
10. Investigation is ongoing to bring the perpetrator to book. Further statement will be issued in due cause.
DSP Caleb Ikechukwu
Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO).
For: Commissioner of Police,Ekiti state Command.
Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO).
For: Commissioner of Police,Ekiti state Command.
It was reported that the wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Bisi Fayemi was attacked by students while she was returning from her visit to some council areas. The students reportedly attacked her convoy, hurling sticks and stones at the convoy, but she was saved by security operatives at the scene.
As at the time of filing this report, an announcement was made on Voice FM 89.9 that the Vice chancellor has ordered the immediate closure of the University and also the proscription of the student union. Students are expected to vacate the institution latest by 10am on Wednesday. Text messages were sent to the students by the university management to that effect which states
"This is to inform the community of Federal University, Oye-Ekiti that the management of the University has shut down the university indefinitely."
As at the time of filing this report, an announcement was made on Voice FM 89.9 that the Vice chancellor has ordered the immediate closure of the University and also the proscription of the student union. Students are expected to vacate the institution latest by 10am on Wednesday. Text messages were sent to the students by the university management to that effect which states
"This is to inform the community of Federal University, Oye-Ekiti that the management of the University has shut down the university indefinitely."
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