The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Joint Campus Committee, Ondo Axis has called for a probe of security agents in the entourage of Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa who shot at students and injured some of them on Monday.
The body said the development, which occurred when the governor visited the campus for a programme was uncalled for and described it as a provocative attack on innocent students.
In a statement on Monday night signed by Comr. Oluwarotimi Joshua, the Chairman, Comr. Oluwanishola Ajibola, the General Secretary, and Comr. Kehinde Blessing, the Public Relations Officer, the group wondered what could have led to the attack.
However, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ebenezer Adeniyan, in a telephone chat, said the security details of the governor shot tear gas canisters because some people wanted to breach his boss’ security.
The statement by the students read,” The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Joint Campus Council (JCC) Ondo Axis has condemned in strong terms the brutal assault on students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), by security operatives accompanying the Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa. This shocking incident occurred when the Student Union President of the institution, Comrade Boladale Oyindamola, popularly known as Mandela, along with his executive members, were trying to welcome the Governor to their campus.
“Comrade Mandela and his team were also planning to seize the opportunity to remind the Governor of his recent approval for the dualization of roads on campus. However, as they moved to greet and address the Governor, they were met with hostility. Security operatives prevented them from approaching the Governor and, in an alarming turn of events, the students were tear-gassed and viciously beaten. Chaos erupted when some of the students attempted to defend their colleagues, leading to further violence, with gunshots fired by the security personnel.
*NANS JCC Ondo Axis has expressed its deep disappointment and anger over this blatant attack on student leaders and peaceful students. It is deeply troubling that students, in their peaceful attempt to engage with the Governor on issues of concern, were met with such violence and hostility. We strongly condemn this act and demand immediate justice for the students who were mistreated.
“The association is demanding that Governor Aiyedatiwa issues a public apology to the students of AAUA and take immediate steps to hold the security personnel involved accountable for their actions. NANS JCC Ondo Axis is also calling for an urgent dialogue between the state government and the student leadership to address the pressing issues on campus, including the approved but yet-to-be-implemented road dualization project.
“The association stresses that the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are fundamental rights that must be respected at all times. NANS JCC Ondo Axis further warns that if the Ondo State government fails to address this incident swiftly and fairly, the association will not hesitate to mobilize students across the state to demand justice.
“We will not allow the voices of students to be silenced by violence and intimidation. If this matter is not resolved, we will be left with no choice but to take decisive action to ensure that justice prevails and the dignity of students is upheld. “
Explaining what happened, Adeniyan said the governor went to the school to witness a donation of some facilities by a lawmaker representing the area.
” Two gates lead to the university campus but one has been closed since because of incessant vehicular accidents by that gate, so the governor went through the only gate opened for use. But before his convoy got there, some students were protesting and they also blocked the only available entrance. While the security details were looking for ways to resolve the issue, some people were charging towards the governor and his team. It was in that process that they fired tear gas canisters.
“Nobody was shot at. Also no life bullet was shot. It was the governor who went to the campus unannounced few days ago and told the management and students that the roads on the campus would be reconstructed. Those saying that the security men were just shooting at students are only fabricating what did not happen,” he said.
-Vanguard
