The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) chapter has decried the recent assault on one of its members, a Computer Science lecturer, by soldiers.

The union also announced plans to build an ICT centre at the Epe Campus of the institution for the benefit of members. It said already, the management has allocated land for the project.

Addressing journalists recently, the Chairman, Mr. Olusegun Ajiboye, said the affected lecturer intervened when the soldiers were assaulting some students on campus, and the military men also manhandled him.

He disclosed that the physical assault on the lecturer, who is also the Assistant Secretary of ASUP, led to the loss of a tooth and he had since received treatment at the hospital. He said the management of the college got across to the Commander, the soldiers were arrested and they agreed to settle the hospital bill.

The chairman said the management of the institution had intervened and the hospital bill will be paid by the soldiers.

According to him, staff, students and the soldiers had a cordial relationship before the incident which has never happened before, and he hoped the relationship continues. “They are our friends, we go to their officers mess to eat. We live like neighbours. It is not good for soldiers to enter campus and beat staff or students.”

He said the soldiers came for a different mission and while returning to the barracks, “they saw students taking pictures and the military men assumed the students took their pictures and they attempted to seize the phone.”

Ajiboye explained that the lecturer intervened but was beaten by the soldiers. He said the management of the college got across to their Commander and the soldiers were arrested and they agreed to settle the medical bill of the lecturer.

The victim, Mr. Adebayo Adeniran, said the soldiers numbering 10, tried to beat some HND Accounting students who were taking pictures while they were celebrating their last day in school and he defended them. But the military personnel assaulted him.

Adeniran said: “We need the soldiers and they also need us. We are all working for the peace and unity of the country. So, nobody is superior to other. We need to work together. We want people to know that we are not mediocre and that we are law-abiding people but will not take rubbish from anybody.”

On the proposed ICT centre, Ajiboye said the foundation will soon be laid. He also revealed that the branch will hold an international conference from November 16 to 17.

He said promotion exercise is ongoing and members will soon receive their promotion letters, while the branch election will hold in December.