|By Daniel Ayantoye
Following a protest by students of Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) Ekiti State against poor power supply in the town on tuesday, Police escorts of the wife of the Ekitit State Governor Mrs. Erule Bisi Fayemi have killed a student while three others sustained severe injuries.
The student identified as Oluwaseyi Kehinde, a 100- level student of the Department of Crop Science and Horticulture died on the spot after been shot in the eye.
The three injured were identified as Okonofua Joseph aka ICON, Azeez Elijah aka Elex and Olamilekan Abdulmuiz.
According to one of the students, Jeremiah Adelani who took to his social media handle to express his concern on the issue, the first lady was passing by during the protest when the students approached her vehicle as an opportunity to express their condition which however resulted in the clash.
“During the course of the protest, Ekiti first lady was passing by. The students thought that it’ll be a great opportunity for them so that their demands would be granted as soon as possible.
“Unfortunately, the first lady took a view of this protest somehow, during the course, 2 fuoyite were shot dead.”
According to him, the students also beat to comma a police officer and burnt one police van.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Police as described the incident as baseless and intended to cause panic in the state.
The Police Force in a statement by the Ekiti State Police Public Relation Officer DSP Caleb Ikechukwu and made available to CAMPUS FOCUS yesterday stated that the student became unruly, hostile and took laws into their hands while protesting and approaching the first lady vehicle who was passing through on her way back from an empowerment program.
“The Nigeria Police Force,Ekiti State Command is using this medium to debunk the story making rounds on social media that the police shot at protesting student of Federal University Oye Ekiti State.
The story is baseless, unfounded and only intends to incite and create panic in the minds of peace loving people of Ekiti State and the general public.
“The students of Federal University Oye/Ikole Campus led by their student Union Government simultaneously embarked on a protest against the total blackout in both campuses. The protesting student took to the Federal High way away from the perimeter wall of University and Blocked the Oye-Ikole-Lokoja Federal Roads,their by causing the breach of Peace and grid lock to motorist plying that route. The protesting students also invaded the office of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) in Oye Ekiti.
“It took the quick intervention of policemen deployed to the scene to prevent further damage of the office complex. The Police Officers at the scene pacified with the protesting student, removed the blockade and dispersed the protesting student peacefully.
“However,the protesting student turned around in their numbers and took their plight to Her Excellence, Erule Bisi Fayemi, The Wife of the Executive Governor of Ekiti State who was at an empowerment program. The protesting Student suddenly became unruly, hostile and took laws into their hands, also Vandalized the motorcade of her excellency.
“The protesting student did not stop at that, they also assaulted the policemen who where at the scene to maintain law and order and damaged Police Vehicle
found at the Scene.”
He however also said in an added statement that “a weapon have been recovered from the protesting Student, also the sanate of the University have proscribe the student Union Government of FOYE And the student are to vacate the campus because the University have been temporarily closed for Normalcy to return.”
