A vandalised car during the protest
| credits: File photo
The management of the Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, has set up a panel of enquiry to investigate the cause of the March 19 and 20 protest by the students of the university.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mathews Ojo, said this at a press conference on Wednesday evening.
He said the panel, which would include two representatives of the students, was headed by the Dean of Science, Prof. Samuel Ilori.
He added that the university also planned to hold a stakeholders and parents’ meeting at Ibadan, Lagos and Osogbo from March 28 to March 31.
Ojo, who debunked the speculation in some quarters that increment in school fees caused the riot, said the pre-degree and final year students would resume on April 1, while 100 level students would resume on April 8. He added that 200 and 300 level students would resume on April 14.
The vice chancellor said students accused of taking part in the riot would be given opportunity to defend themselves before the panel.
He said the inability of some students to watch the European Champions League match due to power outage in a section of the male hostel prompted some students to mobilise others to protest.
According to Ojo, the management has been spending huge money to fuel the diesel generator to provide electricity to the campus.
He stated that the protest, which started at 8pm on Wednesday night, was brought under control around 10.30pm, adding that some students continued the protest the following day when they found out that some students who looted shops had been arrested by the police.
The VC noted that power supply to Iwo town had been irregular since the rainstorm of March 12, saying the university had been supplying electricity through generator and it had sunk 29 boreholes to supply water to the campus.
He said, “The management has set up a panel of enquiry to investigate the crisis. Although there are enough rules in the student information handbook to take care of the situation, we do not want to act under emotion.
“Any student accused of any wrong doing in connection with the disturbance will be given opportunity to defend himself or herself for justice to take its cause.
“We appreciate the understanding of the parents of our students. We also assure them that the safety and security of their children is paramount in our agenda and we will not fail them. The university’s commitment to academic excellence and godliness in character will continue to be upheld.”
