FUNAAB VC SPEAKS WITH PIGEONPOST ON THE CURRENT CRISIS IN THE UNIVERSITY

"No lives were lost during the protest"— VC

By Bamidele Williams


Speaking in a telephone conversation with the Convener of Pigeonpost News Agency this evening.
Prof. Olusola Bandele Oyewole, the vice-chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) asserted that no lives were lost during the students protest.

PIGEONPOST: On the current crisis that is rocking the university community and according to a report available with the agency, the crisis is said to have erupted as a result of several cases of robbery and rape cases on the university environment hostels. What are the steps your administration has taken during this period to bring an end to that?

FUNAAB VC: The incidence happened outside the university campus. We have collaborated with the police in ensuring that it is optimally managed by the police. Incidentally, they said the man-power available was not enough to go round the large area of the hostel environment that are involved. They are not within the university.

PIGEONPOST: But they are still students of the university — parts of the university Sir.

FUNAAB VC: Yes. It is community around the university campus and unfortunately, the landlords vented the opportunity to be providing security. But, I think we are working with the police to make sure the place is well manned now. We have been doing that now.

PIGEONPOST: And what is your reaction to the students of the university that were shot dead during the protest?

FUNAAB VC: No lives were lost during the protest.

PIGEONPOST: But the agency can boast of images of bullets, of the affected and even spoke with the family of the affected.
What is your reaction to this?

FUNAAB VC: The student that was shot is not dead. He is receiving intensive medical attention in UCH.

PIGEONPOST: So, you mean it is a cooked up lie or mere rumour that two lives were lost during the protest?

FUNAAB VC: No. I'm not aware of that. I don't have any information to that.

PIGEONPOST: And what are the steps you are taking now to ensure that normalcy and peace is been restored back to the university environment, release of the detained and to ensure quick resumption of students?

FUNAAB VC: We are collaborating with the police and we are doing all our best to make consultations with the stakeholders.

PIGEONPOST: In a message from the students' union president of the university available with the agency, he stated that their basic demand during the protest was that police station should be brought near the students community of the affected areas so as to ensure most  advantageous safety of the students lives and properties.
What is your reaction to this?

FUNAAB VC: We are discussing with the security agencies and we are doing all that we could to ensure the safety of our students outside the university campus just as we are doing for those within the university campus.



Freedom of expression is never a crime in a democratic system.
Pigeonpost News Agency on her own part condemn this very barbaric act from members of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) following the historical roots and continuation of the mistrust between law enforcement's in using bullets for riot control during students protest across the country's tertiary institutions and also use this medium to appeal to the Nigeria government in providing a reasonable solution to this repetitive events.

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