FUNAAB partners police, DSS to curb security challenges

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), which last Thursday declared a seven-day mid-semester break for the Second Semester of 2015/2016 academic
session, says it has taken steps to protect the lives and property of members of staff and students.

Particularly, the school says it is partnering the state police command as well as the Department of State Services (DSS) in its bid to ensure that peace returns to the campus.

The management-ordered break was after a violent protest by students, which left five vehicles burnt, seven vandalised and a place of worship allegedly attacked. The protest was precipitated by the alleged insensitivity displayed by the police and the school’s management over incessant attacks on students by hoodlums in the school’s hostels.

After the protest, where two policemen were allegedly injured, over 30 persons were arrested in connection with incident, with the state command saying that those found culpable would be prosecuted.

According to Head, Directorate of Public Relations (DPR) of the school, Emi’ Alawode, management of the school, noted with dismay, the violent unrest to protest incessant robbery attacks in hostels outside the university campus, which led to the disruption of public peace, wanton vandalisation and destruction of private and/or public property running into several millions of naira.

She said that the mid-semester break, would assist the university to provide additional security measures, and to further support initiatives of the federal and state governments towards the protection of their lives and property of members of the university community.

However, apart of the concerted efforts towards ensuring a secured environment for members of the university community, she informed, “FUNAAB has partnered with relevant security agencies to ensure safety of lives and property of staff and students living within the university environs, following armed robbery reports from some students residing in Isolu, a community situated outside the university campus,” the statement added.

“To this end, the University security team, in collaboration with the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) of Odeda and Obantoko areas, both in Abeokuta, often take turns, on daily basis, to patrol the university environs at night.  The university management has also encouraged the various communities to embrace community policing and vigilante services, to support the efforts of the police and the DSS.

“It is important to note that students have also been cautioned to avoid attracting unnecessary attention to themselves, be alert, be vigilant about happenings in their surroundings and be free to contact the University Chief Security Officer (CSO), in case they notice any strange movement or occurrence around their vicinities,” she added.