The management of the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, Ondo State, has ordered the closure of the institution for two weeks following the spate of insecurity in the university community.
The development followed a protest embarked upon by the students of university last Thursday.
Hundreds of students from OAUSTECH specifically staged a protest to register their displeasure over incessant robberies in their hostels, threats to their lives and properties and rape of the female students by gunmen, who reportedly came from communities around the university but in a swift reaction, the Management of institution has shutdown the school.
Over security threats, they say.
A source disclosed no fewer than four female students had been raped by the hoodlums in their various hostels in the last two weeks.
It was also gathered that the gunmen also robbed the students of their valuables like phones, laptops, gadgets before raping the female students at gunpoint.
During the peaceful protest, the students blocked the Okitipupa-Igbokoda highway thereby disrupting free-flow of traffic.
The President of the Student Union Government of the institution, Damilola Okunomo, said the students were tired of the level of insecurity in the area, noting that the hoodlums robbed students of their valuables like phones, laptops, gadgets and rape female ones at gunpoint.
He said , “We are tired of this insecurity, armed hoodlums usually come to our off-campus hostels, rob students at gunpoint, and also rape our female students.
“The school management is not doing enough as we are the ones securing ourselves by working as vigilantes most times, the situation is terrible.
“We urge the school management to do its best in securing us and complete all the uncompleted hostel accommodations in our campus as this will also guarantee our security.”
However , in a reaction, Dean of Students Affairs of the school, Ilemobayo Oguntimehin, stated that the school management is doing its best to secure the lives and properties of the students.
Similarly, the Public Relations Officer of the varsity, Abdullazeez Adebayo, confirmed the development, saying the school had already taking steps to ensure the safety of lives and properties of the students.
He said, “It is true the students staged a peaceful protest, and the school has been shut. The management will be meeting with all the traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the communities over the security of the students. In few days from now, the school would organised a security summit that will involve all the stakeholders in the area.”
