12042019 - I N S E C U R I T Y: Buhari launches offensive; orders ruthless action

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28 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, April 12, 2019 Who poisoned OAU Dam? By Gbenga Olarinoye OSOGBO — VICE Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, in Osun State, Prof. Eyitope Ogunmodede had recently petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Osun Police Command over the poisoning of institution’s dam. Before now, a land dispute between OAU and some indigenes of Ile Ife, last week, assumed a dangerous dimension as some of the aggrieved persons, claiming ownership of some portions of the university land, invaded the university and reportedly poisoned the university dam. It was reported that some indigenes, who claimed their land was taken for the university when it was established in 1962, had been selling some portions of the land. The management of OAU had accused some individuals of the host community of ‘‘criminally poisoning’’ the institution’s dam which provides water to the OAU community of over 30,000 students and staff. The institution has insisted that the 162 hectares of land was given to the University in the 1960s by the then Ooni of Ife, Oba Adesoji Aderemi. In the petition, the university authorities, named one of the attackers as Idowu Ogunwusi (alias Dagunduro). The petition, entitled Complaint of Criminal Pollution of Opa Dam, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, noted that the assailants gained access to the dam through a portion of the university land adjoining Parakin Area. The petition, signed by the Vice Chancellor of the university, reads in part; “I wish to formally make a complaint of criminal pollution of Opa Dam in the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife by some murderous members of the Ife Community. “On 3rd April 2019 at about 1500hours, a report of invasion and pollution of the University Dam by a group of people who claimed to be members of Great Ife Development Board was received by the Security Unit of the University. “The suspected culprits threatened the University Security Operative manning the area, Mr. O. A. Omotosho, with guns and some other dangerous weapons. They however escaped on sighting reinforcement from the University Security Department. Fortunately, one of the ringleaders of the invaders, Mr. Idowu Ogunwusi, alias DAGUNDURO, was identified by the University Security men sent as reinforcement.” Allegations, counter allegations The institution fingered members of the Ife Development Board, IDB, for carrying out such acts. But the IDB has debunked the allegation of its members involvement in the poisoning of the OAU dam as alleged by the university authorities. Speaking with Vanguard on the development, the President of IDB, Mr. Lawrence Olajire Awowoyin said the university’s claim that Great Ife Development Board perpetrated the act must not be misinterpreted as Ife Development Board. Awowoyin said: “We are worried. We are not comfortable. IDB is not Great Ife Development Board. We have nothing to do with the poisoning of OAU dam.” He challenged the Vice Chancellor of the university to go beyond alleging member of Ife community of poisoning the university dam. He said: “The Vice Chancellor should go beyond mere allegation and should be able to take a step forward to provide cogent reason for the allegation. OAU is our institution and there is no any right and reasonable Ife indigene that will think of poisoning the dam. “We don’t know any group called Great Ife Development Board in Ile-Ife. We have the Ife Development Board. “On the issue of land dispute, the Board or any of our members has never been involved in any land dispute/ infr<strong>action</strong> with OAU up till now. Therefore, Great Ife Development Board, if it exists should, not be linked with us, we have no association with the body if it exists. “However and seriously too, we as Ife Community is very sad that our Community is being linked with the alleged poisoning of the Dam. We want to know the person or persons caught doing such, hence we are requesting OAU Management to come up with evidence.” He stressed that the IDB would soon come out with its position on the issue, saying those people that allegedly encroached on the university land claimed to be members of great Ife Development Board. Land grabbers poisoned our dam—OAU mgt Meanwhile, the Management of OAU, Ile-Ife has described the alleged poisoning of the university dam that supplied water to the university community people suspected to The act is condemnable and wicked. How can some group of people poison the only source of dam where over 36,000 peoples in the university community were drinking from? •Adeyeye-Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife be land grabbers as an act of genocide against the University community. The university management argued that if the hoodlums had succeeded in their act, the effect of their <strong>action</strong> was capable of destroying the credibility and the good image the university had built over the years. Conducting journalists round the disputed land, the University’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju noted that a section of the land had already been marked for the construction of a proposed Oduduwa Estate within the university land. The management added that the hoodlums at a time chased out workers on construction site on the university land and erected “stop work” order on it. Chemicals used to poison dam Olanrewaju said the chemical used in poisoning the dam, which was the only source of water to the University killed all the aquatic animals in it. He, however, said that the dam had been treated and now safe for drinking. His words: “The act is condemnable and wicked. How can some group of people poison the only source of dam where over 36,000 peoples in the university community were drinking from? The act is genocidal and wicked. “They came through the Parakin area of the town to poison the dam but God was so good to us that immediately the dam was poisoned, it rained for two days and washed the poisonous chemical away. “We have treated the water and laboratory test had been done on it and now very safe to drink.” Disputed land On the disputed the land, Olanrewaju said the whole land belongs to the Federal Government, adding the University was not ready to concede any portion of it to anybody. He said the land grabbers had started selling portions of land to the people while construction workers working on the proposed OAU International Secondary school on the land were chased away with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons by the hoodlums. He said: “The Vice-Chancellor has instructed our security men not to retaliate but it is not possible for anyone to invade Federal Government land for personal gain because the land is gazette. “We have informed the police and other security agencies and we believe they will act accordingly. We have also informed the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and Ife Development Board.” Allegation spurious —Ooni’s palace When contacted to speak on the issue, the spokesman of Ooni’s palace, Moses Olafare said the palace received the allegation of dam poisoning by people suspected to be members of the community with trepidation and bewilderment adding that it is very difficult for any right thinking person to believe such allegation. His words: “The allegation is spurious and unfounded. It is an expression of absurdity because how can any reasonable person believe such allegation. Both OAU and Ife community have been living harmoniously together for the past 50 years and such allegation never occurred. “Come to think of it, let’s assume it is true. Where is the university situated? Majority of the students and staff of the university are indigenes of the community and you expect indigenes of the community would want to wipe away their lives. “We, as a palace, are furious to read in the newspapers and in the online media that people poisoned water in the university. It is very absurd.” Water safe for drinking —OAU mgt However, barely after the incident of dam poisoning, the management of OAU, assured members of the University community and other stakeholders of the safety of water from the school dam. The institution’s Registrar, Mrs. M.I Omosule said that the pumping of water was only resumed after necessary and satisfactory steps had been taken so as to confirm and ensure the safety of the discharge from the waterworks. We’re yet to make any arrest—Police When contacted five days when the petition was written, the State Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Abiodun Ige confirmed the receipt of the petition, but said the command is yet to make any arrest. She, however, said the police has commenced investigations to unravel circumstances that led to the petition assuring that its findings would be made public. Meanwhile, it is surprising that more than a week when the police claimed it has received the petition the major suspect, Idowu Ogunwusi who claimed to be a member of a non recognised organization, Great Ife Development Board, is yet to be apprehended.
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12042019 - I N S E C U R I T Y: Buhari launches offensive; orders ruthless action

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