Rampage, As Students Protest Colleague’s Death, Vent Fury On Varsity’s Livestock

STUDENTS of Ekiti State University (EKSU) Ado Ekiti at the weekend went on rampage over the killing of a final-year student, Abiola Teslim Yussuf, by a hit-and-run vehicle on Wednesday.

At the end of the violent demonstration, five cars and some motorcycles, belonging to the institution and staff, were burnt. Buildings damaged included the multimillion naira Information and Communications Technology Centre.

At the University Agricultural Farm, the protesting students vented their wrath on 3,500 birds, 10 goats, 75 sheep, 25 rabbits, 30 pigs and 120 crates of eggs, causing them to vanish into thin air. Workers at the facility were also manhandled.

The Public Relations Officer of the Ekiti State Police Command, Mr. Victor Babayemi Olu, said seven students who partook in the looting and vandalism have been arrested by the Police and are being held at the command’s headquarters in Ado Ekiti.

Olu gave assurance that efforts are underway to apprehend the driver, who knocked down the victim near Osekita Hostel, a students’ residential building close to the institution.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oladipo Patrick Aina, who was visibly angry, said the institution would deal decisively with all persons involved in looting and destruction of the school property, adding that the authority would carry out an investigation into the crisis.

Aina, who announced indefinite closure of the institution, said management would assess extent of damage and determine culpability of student and staff.

Aina expressed shock at the extent of the damage and delay in police action, describing both as unjustifiable.

He said he was bothered by the fact that following security report, he had called the Police on Friday to inform them that students were mobilising for a protest but the officers surfaced at about 7pm after damage had been done.

The Police, however, have denied insinuations that they arrived late at the scene.

The Vice Chancellor explained that he personally ensured that the deceased student, whom he described as member of the Eye confraternity, was taken to Ikere Ekiti Specialist Hospital immediately the accident occurred.