Drama As OAU Forces Students Out From Hostels

By Sodiq Lawal

There was drama as the management of the Obafemi Awolowo University on Wednesday forcefully chased out students from its hostels to allow renovation of the buildings.

It was gathered that officials of the schools began to ‘throw’ the luggage of students out of the halls of residence after a short notice was issued 24 hours earlier. The officials also sealed the doors of the rooms afterwards.

A confrontation erupted at the Moremi hall, yesterday, where some students including student activists and journalists were reportedly manhandled.

Gbenga Oloniran, Secretary of the Anti Neo-liberal attacks against Students Association (ANSA), and a female student were reportedly ‘arrested’ by the security unit of the university.

The school vacated on February 17 but students writing their final year projects and those undergoing their Student Industrial Working Experience Scheme (SIWES) and Teaching Practice (TP) programmes are still on campus.

Ayodele Opeyemi who witnessed the forceful eviction at Moremi hall, said that the officers were not ”considerate enough as they threw students loads from the topmost floor”.

Also, an occupant of Moremi hall, Miss Akinremi, a final year student, complained that she is yet to finish her final year project.

She said her property including her mattress were flung out by rampaging officials.

Halimat Busayo, who resides at the Alumni hall also narrated a similar tale of eviction.

The hall warden of Alumni hall, who did not give her name explained the reason for the action, explaining that the eviction directive came from the school management for renovation purposes.

The Dean of Division of Students Affairs (DSA), Isiaka Aransi, who showed up later in the company of the school’s Chief Security Officer at the scene of conflict in Moremi simply instructed the students to move out immediately.

A three-hour-ultimatum was subsequently given to students occupying halls of residence to leave.