Ondo State Governor and Visitor to AAUA, Lucky Aiyedatiwa
– Asks Ondo govt to provide enough hostel accommodation spaces
Following the killing of three students of The Alumni Association of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State has condemned the spate of killing of the institution’s students.
It described the development as unfortunate and unacceptable.
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In a statement by the association’s global spokesman, O’Seun Ogunsakin, it condemned the recent killings of three undergraduates in quick succession by suspects who are indigenes of the host community.
Andrel Okah of the Department of History and International Studies; and John Abba of the Department of Economics got missing and their bodies were found in the forest two weeks later.
As the university community was still battling with the shocking development, another student, Joy Adeyemi of the Department of Human Kinetics of the same university was found dead in his room.
Fetid odour emanating from her room raised suspicion, forcing people in the neighborhood to force her door open only to behold her decomposing body.
It was discovered that she was stabbed to death allegedly by her boyfriend who was an indigene of the host community.
It was alleged that the boyfriend went away with the money she was using to run her POS business.
The Alumni Association demanded immediate and appropriate attention and action from all relevant authorities, including the Ondo State Government, all security agencies, particularly the police and Department of State Security (DSS), as well as the traditional ruler of Akungba-Akoko, “to curb the act which is now becoming a dangerous habit.”
According to the statement: “We are appalled and deeply saddened by the recent killing of three promising students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba; of which the latest victim is a hardworking final year student and POS operator.
“The brutal killing of these students by indigenes of Akungba-Akoko underlines a disturbing pattern of extortion and hostility being experienced by AAUA students in the host community.
“These dangerous predilections, which have culminated in the cold blooded murder of AAUA students, demand immediate and concrete attention and action from all the critical stakeholders, especially the government of Ondo State, the Police and the host community..
“The Alumni Association and parents of AAUA students, as well as the larger society have a right to expect relative safety and security for all students, regardless of their background or circumstances.”
Ogunsakin described as disheartening that the once peaceful host community was becoming a den of criminals and unsafe for students; warning that if the host community failed to caution the natives against behaviours that were hostile and criminal, Akungba might return to the pre-university days.
Ogunsakin said: “We urge the host community to reflect on the consequences of their actions and work towards building a more harmonious relationship with members of the university community living in their midst.”
The Alumni, therefore, called on the Police to ensure that perpetrators of the crimes and their accomplices are brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.
Furthermore , the Alumni Association declared that it would not tolerate any attempt to sweep the matter under the carpet as it’s currently engaging with appropriate authorities on the vexed matter.
Meanwhile, the AAUA Alumni Association has called on the Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to be more committed to the University as its Visitor by prioritizing on-campus hostel facilities.
It noted that the construction of new hostels and completion of abandoned hostel projects on the university campus should become an actionable priority to stem the killings of students of the varsity.
Ogunsakin said: “Provision of on-campus hostel accommodation is a panacea to the extortion, inhumane treatment and needless killings of students of the University in off-campus hostel facilities.
“The Alumni Association under the leadership of its President, Dr Olumide Olugbemi-Gabriel, is redoubling its efforts to ensure the completion of the ongoing multi-million naira Alumni Hostel Project.”
The Publicity Secretary called on all alumni and well spirited individuals to donate to the hostel project to make the university a safer community for students.
Ogunsakin, therefore, on behalf of the Association, expressed condolences to the families of the victims, and prayed for peace and healing for all those affected by the tragedy.
