Police shoot 2 IART&T staff in college protest against Provost

Two staff members of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan, Mrs Helen Adekanmi and one other, were shot yesterday during a protest by students of the Federal College of Agriculture, Moore Plantation, Apata, Ibadan. The protest, according to an eyewitness, started about 8:00a.m. when students of the institution were protesting within the […]

Two staff members of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan, Mrs Helen Adekanmi and one other, were shot yesterday during a protest by students of the Federal College of Agriculture, Moore Plantation, Apata, Ibadan.

The protest, according to an eyewitness, started about 8:00a.m. when students of the institution were protesting within the premises of the school against the leadership of the provost of the institution, Dr. Babajide Adelekan.

 The Federal College of Agriculture and Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology share the same premises with IART&T. 

The eyewitness told our correspondent that students of the college were protesting on many strikes by workers of the institution and various crises that have been rocking the provost’s administration.

 He said that the melee started when the policemen arrived and started chasing the protesters. According to him, the students restricted the police invasion, which made the police to re-enforce and began pursuing students, staff of the three institutions and other people on sight.

City News gathered that Mrs Adekanmi and the other victim were allegedly shot in the process. They have been hospitalised and are currently receiving treatment at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

  An industrial training (IT) student, a male staff Mr Lanre Johnson and 10 other staff whose names were still being collated at the time of filing this report sustained various degrees of injuries on their heads, legs, toes and arms.

Our correspondent observed five cars said to be property of the staff of IAR&T that were damaged during the melee said to have lasted for over two hours.

A source who confided in our correspondent noted that the crisis in the college has been on for over two years, which has made the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to wade into the crisis.

He said, “It has developed to this level. The only thing that I know is that I was told that the students were tired of staying at home. And they are tired of coming to the college doing nothing. Therefore they have to protest.”

  The Executive Director of IAR&T, Professor James Adediran, who quickly cut off his journey to Abuja, lamented that it was unfortunate policemen could not differentiate between staff of the institute and students and staff of the College of Agriculture who were protesting.

  Adediran noted that his staff were about to resume for work when policemen came to invade the premises. He said that he had to quickly return from his journey to Abuja when staff of the institution called him about the situation on ground.

Adediran said, “This morning, our staff came to their places of work and unfortunately the gates were locked. They had to look for ways to enter the premises, and unfortunately we learnt that students were on rampage shouting and demonstrating on the main road, so it was difficult to enter.

“I was not around. I was on my way to Abuja and had to turn back just after Ilesa. When I came back I was told that the police entered the premises and started shooting. To be sincere, I want to say that two of our staff were shot, one on the leg and the other one in the abdomen.

“What really happened is that there were stray bullets. The two of them are still in the hospital. They were rushed to the hospital and are now receiving treatment.” 

 The state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, confirmed the incident, saying the state command was investigating the matter.