Trouble started minutes before 8am on Monday when students, who shares the same premises with IART&T and Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology were protesting within the premises against the leadership of the Provost of the institution, Dr. Babajide Adelekan.
The students noted that they were tired of protracted strikes by workers of the institution and various crisis that had been rocking Adelekan’s administration.
A commercial motorcyclist who plies the popular Mokola-Dugbe-Apata Road while speaking with Daily Post on condition of anonymity disclosed that students of the institution were protesting peacefully and blocked the Apata-Dugbe Road when the police came to disperse them.
He noted that the melee started when the policemen arrived and started chasing the protesters.
He added that the students resisted the police invasion, which made the police to re-enforce and chase students, staff of the three institutions and other people on sight.
It was gathered that two staff of IAR&T, including Mrs Helen Adekanmi and another male staff who were sht during the francas have been hospitalised and are currently receiving treatments at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
An industrial training (IT) student, a male staff Mr. Lanre Johnson and ten other staff whose names were still being collated as at the time of filling this report sustained various degrees of injuries on their heads, legs, toes and arms.
Five cars belonging to staff of IAR&T were also seen by our correspondent damaged during the melee that lasted for over two hours.
Mobile policemen were stationed with patrol vehicles controlling vehicular and human movements.
A source said the crisis had been on for two years and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture had waded into the crisis sometime ago.
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 stage protest”.
Executive Director of IAR&T, Prof. James Adediran who cut off his journey to Abuja described the incident as unfortunate.
Adediran while speaking with Daily Post condemned the ugly incident which affected activities in the institution, staff and other members of the institute.
He noted that it was unfortunate that 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 the policemen came to invade the premises without sparing anyone.
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