Ondo varsity students protest over rape, armed robbery attacks

Students of the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, Ondo State, protested over the sexual harassment and violence on campus, saying four female students were raped within the last two weeks.

The students who blocked the Okitipupa-Igbokoda road, disrupting free-flow of traffic to register their grievances over the incessant robbery, rape and attacks in the students’ hostels, said the development is a threat to their lives and property.

Speaking on behalf of the students, the President, Student Union Government of the institution, Damilola Okunomo, who condemned the insecurity within the school said the incessant attacks were being perpetrated by hoodlums from the neighbouring communities.

According to him, the hoodlums had dispossessed the students of their valuables like phones, laptops, gadgets, while female students had been raped at gunpoint.

Okunomo disclosed that four female students had been raped in the last two weeks, alleging that the institution’s management has been insensitive to the plight of the students.

“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.”

Reacting, the Dean of Student Affairs of OAUSTEC, Mr Ilemobayo Oguntimehin, said the school management has put some measures in place to secure the lives and property of the students, saying some of the measures cannot be made public.

Meanwhile, the authorities of the OAUSTEC has declared two weeks mid-semester break due to the insecurity.

FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE