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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Benin Branch, has served notice that its members may not be available to resume academic activities on the 28th of April 2024, if immediate action and the necessary processes are not initiated to nip in the bud incessant violence attack on lecturers and management staff by some students of the institution.
The union at the end of its emergency meeting said it is constrained to embark on teaching and research in an environment in which lecturers are prime targets for brutalisation or elimination by some students of the institution they are labouring to impact with the wealth of their intellectual property.
The ASUU resolution followed the attempted murder of Dr. Presley Osemwengie, a lecturer in the Department of Economics, and a member of the Union by some members of the Executive Committee of the University of Benin Students Union.
The Union in a statement signed by its Chairman, Ray Chikogu and Secretary, Success Abusomwan, respectively, said Dr. Presley Osemwengie was attacked, hit in the back of his head with a small axe and left for dead in the pool of his own blood by some of those in the company of the Students Union President.
“We are constrained to issue this statement on the basis of the spate of violence and general atmosphere of insecurity that has pervaded the Ugbowo campus of the University of Benin of late. This culminated in the attempted murder of Dr Presley Osemwengie, a lecturer in the Department of Economics and member of the University of Benin Branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), by some members of the Executive Committee of the University of Benin Students Union led by their President and some ex- as well as non-students of the University on Friday the 12th of April, 2024.
“On that fateful day, the President of the Students Union of the University of Benin marched upon a gathering of staff of the University and their invited guests, ordering them to discontinue their interaction as he was not pre-informed and consequently, did not grant permission for the interaction to be held.
“In the resulting melee, Dr Presley Osemwengie was attacked; hit in the back of his head with a small axe and left for dead in the pool of his own blood by some of those in the company of the Students Union President.
“It is necessary to note that this worrisome trend began with the assault by both students and non-students of the University on the person of the current Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin in September 2021 when she was humiliated and marched from her residence to the Main Gate of the University in very hostile circumstances.
“Other similar and very unsavoury incidents in which students of the University of Benin have threatened and brutalised lecturers of the University have also been reported at different times. This cannot continue.
“We wish to now state that it is impossible for our members to hereafter dispose themselves to
any teaching and research in an environment in which they are prime targets for brutalisation or
elimination by some of the students they are labouring to impact with the wealth of their intellectual property. So it is incumbent on the Administration of the University of Benin to provide adequate security for the staff of the University and create an atmosphere conducive to effective teaching and learning on our campuses.
“To the end that our members will feel safe to conduct their business of research, teaching, and
supervision going forward from the 28th of April 2024 (being the date of resumption for the next
academic session) therefore, and without prejudice to the work of the Committee set up by the
University Administration to investigate the incident at stake, we state as follows as encapsulated in the resolutions of the meeting of the Congress of ASUU UNIBEN on Thursday the 18th of April, 2024.”
“Our Union condemns in very strong terms, the rebellious and terrorising acts of brigandage being carried out by our students both as individuals and under the cover of student unionism in their entirety”, the statement said.
The ASUU leadership said the affront and impunity exhibited by the group of persons led by the Students Union President on the 12th of April 2024 is unacceptable and called on the University Administration to institute a thorough probe to identify students, including members of the executive committee of the Students Union of the University, who participated in the event(s) that led to the attempted murder of their colleague to be taken through the disciplinary process and sanctioned as appropriate.
