Academic activities at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko [AAUA] in Ondo State was on Monday disrupted following a protest by the students over alleged attack on some of their lecturers by the University Security Guards, popularly known as “Sheriff Security”.
In the said fracas, former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Oluwasegunota Bolarinwa and the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) in the Institution, Dr. Busuyi Mekusi were assaulted and presently hospitalized at an undisclosed private clinic in the community.
The former Speaker is a lecturer in the University and one of the leading ASUU members.
Sources told DailyPost that the crisis broke out following an alleged instruction given to the security team by the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Femi Mimiko that they should stop members of ASUU from holding their Zonal meeting in the University.
It will be recalled that Mimiko directed his lecturers to pull out from the last year ASUU strike which lasted for six months, with a treat that he would recruit new lecturers if they refused to resume work.
A student, who preferred anonymity said members of the Sheriff security outfit operating in the campus at about 9.15 am blocked ASUU executives from entering the campus to hold the congress on the” order from above”.
He added that the University teachers who reportedly came from Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU)Ago Iwoye ,Benue State University, and University of Ibadan(UI) among others were denied access to the campus.
It was learnt that the Security men in the process attempted to deflate their tyres and allegedly pounced on the ASUU Chairman and the former Speaker.
A senior ASUU member who spoke in confidence alleged that the Sheriff guards also brought out dangerous weapons to inflict injuries on the lecturers.
It was learnt that many of them sustained injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The development was said to have triggered students protest who described the attack meted to their teachers as ridiculous and wicked.
Several calls to the Institution’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Victor Akinpelumi were not attended to.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mimiko could not be reached for comment.
The AAUA ASUU Chairman, Mekusi has directed that the lecturers would embark on a week strike in protest against the assault on their members.
As at the press time, students were still protesting against the attack on their teachers, blaming the University Management for the brutality on the innocent academics.
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