Five students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, have been reportedly arrested over alleged unlawful protest in the institution.
The protesting student, according to report by New Telegraph, were led by a former Speaker of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC), Abdulazeez Adeoti who, other reports claim, is the son to the secretary to the Osun state government, Alhaji Moshood Olalekan Adeoti.
The protesting students, who are members of a student political group on the campus – National Liberty Vanguard (NLV)- had staged the protest on the campus over students’ union election held last week.
The other students, including Adeoti who were arrested included Dauda Sodiq of Chemical Engineering Department; Akande Seyi (Civil Engineering) and a student of the Department of Chemistry, identified simply as Yemi.
Abdulazeez Adeoti, a 500level student of the Civil Engineering department of the university led the other students into the campus and burnt tyres at the institution’s Second Gate, as early as 7a.m., and had allegedly attempted to lock the gate against students, staff and visitors but were reportedly resisted by the security operatives.
Reports also claim that some students who were mobilised by the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr. Adewale, and the Dean of the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, who was identified simply as Prof. Oni tried to quell the protest, New Telegraph report claim.
Before the invasion, some students of LAUTECH who were hitherto receiving lectures were seen scampering for safety, unsure of the cause of the pandemonium.
Adeoti`s son and his gang later moved to the Students` Affairs department where staff of the university were molested and harassed including the chairman of the security council, Prof. Olatunde Oni.
Meanwhile, the university’s management has described the development as a mere disagreement over the declaration of election result and that the situation was already put under control.
The university’s Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adeyemi, said the election was conducted via electronic system and that the process was open and fair. He said: “Though I have not received the official report but I am aware the whole process was seamless.”
The dean of Students` affairs, Dr. Muyiwa Adewale who, reportedly confirmed the incident to newsmen, said Adeoti was arrested with cutlass and charms together with four others and have been transferred to Ibadan for further investigation and trial on the orders of the Commissioner of Police.
He said no life was however lost during the protest but that a student of LAUTECH (name withheld) sustained a machete cut and is presently receiving treatment at an undisclosed private hospital in Ogbomoso.
