Students Sack TASUED, Disrupt Exams

The first semester examination was disrupted on Tuesday at the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State by violent protest by students.

The protest which continued on Wednesday, our correspondent gathered, was caused by the school management’s decision, disallowing those that have not paid their school fees to sit for the on-going 2013/2014 first semester examination.

Rampaging students were said to have destroyed property in the school premises.

Cars belonging to some lecturers and buses belonging to the institution  were vandalised.

Our correspondent gathered that, mostly affected were the College of Humanities and the building where the  Vice- Chancellor’s Office is located.

It was also gathered that the protesting students also attacked the security  operatives, OP MESA, who were drafted to restore order within the institution.

The men of OP MESA were reported to have repelled the students, and even visited their hostels and whipped those students that were found there.

The VC, Prof. Oluyemisi Obilade, when contacted said the protest was unreasonable and it was spearheaded by the current Student Union Government of the institution.

She said, “We are not asking for too much to say those who have not paid their school fees should go and pay. 

“We started examination on Monday, there was no problem. The students sat for the first paper on Tuesday, there was no problem. But in the afternoon, the Student Union Government mobilised the students and they began a violent protest, which led to destruction of property in the campus.”

She explained that 83 per cent of the students had paid while the remaining 17 per cent were yet to pay.

She added, “We have another 650 students who have never paid any school fees since they were admitted.”

Meanwhile, the students later mobilised under the aegis of Joint Campus Committee, Ogun State and stormed the arcade ground in front of the governor’s office at Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.

The governor was in a meeting and he could not attend to them.

The secretary to the government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa later addressed them.

The students became unruly and almost attacked journalists.

They later stormed food canteens at Iwe-Iroyin House, Oke Ilewo where they requested for free food and were resisted but made away with packs of table water.

June 11, 2014