The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Oyo state chapter, has said the series of successful armed robbery attacks at the University of Ibadan (UI), showed that the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Idowu Olayinka has lost control of security and lack coherent strategy to counter the menace that has continued to threaten the lives of innocent students.
NANS, also called on security agencies in the state to rise up to the occasion and put in place a security architecture that can guarantee the safety of all in the citadel of learning. It further encouraged the students to come to terms with reality and rise peacefully in unity to reject the skyrocketing insecurity.
The leadership of NANS, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade Asubiojo Olujuwon Marshal on Monday, in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital and made available to Mega Icon Magazine, however, called on the Federal Ministry of Education to as matter of urgency review the credibility of Prof. Idowu Olayinka to continue as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, alleging that he has failed by the standard of Nigerian students, parents, global observers and sympathisers.
It would be recalled that sequel to the robbery incident at the Obafemi Awolowo Hall of the University of Ibadan (UI), the female block of Abdusalami Abubakar Postgraduate hall of the same university was attacked on Sunday by armed men.
The security man on patrol, as learnt, was tied up by the armed men and the invaders attacked two male students who got in their way.
According to NANS, “going by the unremitting attacks in the university, it is not out of place to conclude that the Prof. Olayinka led administration and his praise singers have lost control of the security situation of the institution. His administration, aside lacking capacity to keep the lives and properties of our students safe has been openly exhibiting an intolerable level of nonchalance to the welfare of Nigerian students placed in his care”.
“It is now beyond reasonable doubt that all the present administration of the university can do perfectly is the suspension of the Students’ Union, which should serve as her partner in enhancing safety and despotic rustication of student leaders.
“This attack is coming after series of successful armed robbery attacks within the vicinity of University of Ibadan in barely two months. This is an institution that should serve as pace setter for other sister universities, being the first and ‘the best’, – the university is now a target and practice center for armed robbers, coming in at will, to injure, molest and threaten students while carting away their valuables.
“We maintain that trying to combat insecurity in the University without active involvement of students is just a hoax. We therefore call for immediate reinstatement of the University of Ibadan Students’ Union and our rusticated comrades”, the statement reads.
Meanwhile, the management of the University through its Chairman, Council Committee on Security, Prof Ademola Aremu said the university is reviewing its security architecture to forestall future attacks.
Prof. Aremu, who visited the female hostel attacked by gunmen on Sunday in the company of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, also disclosed that the police were working hard to track the invaders.
He noted that the invaders have shown a pattern in their operation by attacking female students during holidays when halls are sparsely populated.
