Abeokuta-Ibadan Road became a theatre of war on Thursday as students of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State went on the rampage to protest the alleged killing of one of them by robbers.
During the protest during which the road was deserted by motorists, a100-Level student of Forestry and Wildlife Department, Taiwo Abisoye, suffered fatal injuries.
Four vehicles were burnt and a church, Divine Heights Bible Church, was vandalised.
Also, a policeman and an official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were injured.
To forestall further breakdown of law and order, the management shut the school immediately and ordered students to vacate within two hours.
It was learned that the students were protesting the attack on one of them at Adejoke Hostel in Isolu community on Wednesday.
Before the protest degenerated, the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) of Obantoko and Odeda, Mrs Veronica Osakwe and Mr Ojogo Olorunlana, had appealed to the students that the attack on the student in the hostel will be investigated.
But, the students refused to vacate the highway.
In a fit of anger, they started throwing stones at the policemen.
While trying to defend themselves, Abisoye was hit by a tear-gas canister.
This further infuriated the students who embarked on widespread vandalism of property while the policemen retreated from the scene.
Anti-riot policemen were later deployed to the area to complement the efforts of regular policemen.
Some of the students injured were taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta before being referred to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a statement by the Head, Directorate of Public Relations of the university, Mrs Emi Alawode, the institution ordered the students to vacate the school immediately.
The statement said the break was to enable the university put additional welfare and security arrangements in place.
The statement partly reads, “The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has declared a seven-day mid-semester break for the Second Semester, 2015/2016 Academic Session with effect from Thursday, August 18, 2016.
“This is to enable the university to put additional welfare and security arrangements in place, to further support the initiatives of the Federal and State Governments, towards the protection of lives and properties of its citizens, particularly, members of staff and students of the university.
“As part of the efforts towards ensuring a safe haven for members of the University community, amidst the security challenges presently facing some parts of our country, Nigeria, FUNAAB has partnered with the Ogun State Commissioner of Police and the Director, State Security Service (SSS), to uphold safety of lives and property of staff and students living within the school environs, following armed robbery reports received by students residing in Isolu, a community situated close to the University, which is highly populated by staff and students of FUNAAB.”
