Students of the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Apata, Ibadan on Friday brought academic activities to a halt as they protested alleged incessant attacks from suspected cultists and hoodlums.
It was gathered that final catalyst for the protest was an attack on Abdulazeez Ademola Babatunde, a National Diploma 2 student of the Department of Fishery technology.
Sources said Babatunde had been attacked by the members of cult yesterday evening for refusing to give the cultists money.
“He was stabbed around the mouth after he made it clear that he had no money to give them,” some of them revealed.
Responding to questions from InsideOyo.com, some of the students noted that the attacks had been on for a while now.
“We just want security and the management is supporting these cultists.
“We want the management to provide adequate security in the school premises 24/7. This is a higher institution. The cultists even say that members of staff work with them and that is why nothing is going to be done about securing our lives and property” noted a student who refused to be identified.
“It is as bad as them entering hostels and demanding that girls cook food for them after they have taken marijuana. Enough is enough, “ another student said.
In an interview with press men, Taimiyu Taiwo, Student Union president of the institution noted that the management had refused to take practical steps to secure the lives of students despite several petitions written.
“We have reported to the management severally and they have not done anything. At times, the hoodlums drive students from their room so they can sleep there. This is a peaceful protest; we are only doing a demonstration. What we want is that right from the federal government to the management; we want them to provide adequate security as is being done in other federal universities and once that is done, we will vacate this place,” he said
Dr. Sesan Olukayode, Dean of Student affairs however denied the allegations of the students.
“The students have been on the verge of this for a long time and the management is doing the best it can to save the situation. On several occasions, they have actually written to the management and the management has taken steps but the problem we have is that these hoodlums come at night and the school security operates only from morning to evening. It is the students that let them in. He denied allegations that members of staff are part of cult groups insisting that there was no way a staff of the school will support hoodlums.” He said
InsideOyo.com also gathered that a meeting was already underway between security apparatus in the state, management and students of the institution.
