The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, on Tuesday condemned the killing of a final year female student of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori-Ewekoro, Ogun State, during an overnight armed robbery attack in Eruku community.
DAILY POST report that the deceased, an HND 2 Marketing student was to finish her exam in few days time.
She was allegedly shot dead during the midnight robbery attack while several other students sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment in hospital.
This led to a massive protest by students of the polytechnic. They blocked the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, paralysing traffic and leaving commuters and motorists stranded for several hours.
The SUG president of the institution, Owoigbe Blessing, told DAILY POST that another female student was cut in the ear and a male student hospitalised following gun shot wound.
“It happened at midnight. One of the final year student from HND 2 Marketing got killed, another female student got injured, they cut her ear and another guy that is at FMC at the moment was shot.”
Blessing insisted that the institution and its surrounding communities lacked adequate security, and urged the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, to look into their plight.
“Please we need the full support of the government, there’s no security. If there was security this wouldn’t happen to this extent. This is not the first or second time or even the third time at Eruku.
Reacting to the incident, the NANS Secretary General, Oladimeji Uthman, in a statement signed by the student body described the incident as “heartbreaking and a direct assault on the future of our nation” and a painful reminder of growing security challenges facing students across Ogun State and the country.
The student body declared a state of emergency in Eruku Community, advising students with alternative accommodation to temporarily relocate “until the security situation has improved and the relevant authorities have implemented adequate measures to guarantee the safety of lives and property.”
The association called on the Ogun State Police Command under the leadership of CP Bode Ojajuni to “immediately carry out a thorough and transparent investigation” into the circumstances surrounding the incident and ensure that all those responsible are “swiftly apprehended and prosecuted in accordance with the law.”
NANS also urged Governor Dapo Abiodun to strengthen security measures around all tertiary institutions in Ogun State and student communities through collaboration with security agencies, institution managements, local government chairmen, traditional institutions, and student leaders.
“NANS extended condolences to the family of the deceased, and to the management, staff and students of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori.
“Education should never become a journey of fear or a pathway to death. Every Nigerian student deserves to study, travel to and fro campus and reside within host communities without the constant threat of violence or criminal attacks.
“In view of the prevailing security concerns, NANS National Secretariat declare state of emergency in Eruku Community advising students residing in the community to vacate the area,” the statement said.
It further called on heads of tertiary institutions in the state to review existing security strategies and work with security agencies and student leaders to improve safety on and off campus.
Expressing concern over persistent complaints from students in Eruku Community, Ewekoro LGA, NANS called on the Eleruku of Eruku Community, Oba Kolawole Edunjobi Adifase, and other community leaders to “take immediate and visible steps to reassure students” by publicly condemning criminality and cooperating with law enforcement.
