OAU hands 5 students over to police, chase others out of hostel

Five students of the Obafemi Awolowo University have been arrested and handed over to the police by the school management and others chased out of their hostels.

The school management is reported to have taken the action after the students became violent when they were asked to evacuate the hostels in order for the management to carry out due renovations on the building.However, while the university workers were carrying out the management instructions, a confrontation erupted as some students activists and journalists were reportedly manhandled.

According to Premium Times, a student activist and  secretary of the Anti Neo-liberal attacks against Students Association (ANSA), Gbenga Olohunniran, was ‘arrested’ by the security unit of the university.

Following Gbenga’s arrest by the school security officials, the university management also reportedly asked the police to arrest four other students activists for allegedly preventing the workers from carrying out the management’s instructions.

In a statement signed by Babatunde Oyatokun, the university’s  Chief Security Officer, it was  alleged that the warden of Moremi Hall of Residence had ordered the hall security assistants to clean the rooms ahead of occupation by new students, but the students came in to harass them.

The CSO added that five of the students were arrested and had been handed over to the police for further action.

The five students who are currently in police custody are: Gbenga Oloruniran, a 400 level students of Geography; Olajide Ademola, a 500 level student of Electrical Electronics; Oyedeji Samson, 300 level student of Pharmacy; Jimoh Oladipupo, 300 level student of Biochemistry; and Adeniji John, 300 level student of Electrical Electronics.

Recall that Obafemi Awolowo University Vice Chancellor, Prof Eyitope Ogunbodede recently said said that the institution charges N90 for hostel accommodation every year.

Although, the students reportedly pay N2590 for accommodation every year, the VC explained that N2500 is for maintenance while N90 is the actual charge for tenancy.