Officers of the Ogun State Police Command on Monday, September 9, 2019, allegedly fired teargas at students and staff of the Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu-Ijebu in Ogun State, while protecting the Provost, Dr. Lukman Kiadese, from being attacked.
Our correspondent gathered that a student sustained an injury during the melee, which disrupted academic activities on the campus.
The provost was accused of giving an order to the policemen who escorted him to the school when the angry students and staff wanted to unleash an attack on him.
The embattled provost was reported to have arrived the college premises with 20 fully-armed policemen as bodyguards and was said to have forcefully entered into his office after nine months of absence.
His absence was said to have been caused by the alleged threat by the aggrieved staff to protest their 60 months’ unpaid salaries.
He was said to have stayed away from the campus and reportedly operated from the governor’s office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, as well as a hotel within the area for the nine months.
But despite unfavorable security reports, the embattled provost resolved to resume to witness an orientation programme held for 100 level students of the college.
His presence was reported to have angered some aggrieved staff members who invaded the hall during the orientation and disrupted the programme.
Kiadese was said to have been shielded by the police from the mob, which wanted to pounce on him.
The situation was said to have gone beyond the control of the policemen, who shot tear gas which affected the students and staff.
A female student was said to have been rushed to the school clinic.
A staff of the college, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the provost allegedly ordered the team of policemen staff disperse the protesting staffs and students with tear gas.
But the Public Relations Officer of the college, Mrs. Olufisayo Olajide, said the deployment of armed policemen to the college had nothing to do with the provost.