Lawmakers in the Ondo State House of Assembly have expressed deep concern over the escalating violence at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), where recent student killings have shocked the academic community.
They unanimously condemned the incessant killings of students of the AAUA by some suspected criminals and called for justice over the matter.
Three students of the institution were recently killed in different circumstances by some criminal indigenes of the university’s host community, Akungba.
The lawmakers, who spoke at the plenary on Tuesday under a matter of urgent public importance, unanimously asked the university host community to rise against criminal elements in the community.
Speaking, Mr Tope Agbulu(Akoko South-West 2 -PDP), said that the recent killings had thrown the entire community into mourning.
Agbulu, who is an indigene of the university’s host community, said the heartbreaking incidents created an atmosphere of fear and tension among students and residents.
According to him, the perpetrators do not represent the good people of Akungba, but their actions have cast a dark shadow on the image and safety of the community.
The lawmaker urgently appealed to the state government, police and other relevant security agencies to launch a full-scale investigation into the killings and bring the culprits to book.
Agbulu appealed to the Assembly to condemn the heinous acts, demand justice and ensure that Akungba remained a haven for education, “not a theatre of bloodshed.”
Also speaking, the Deputy Speaker, Mr Ololade Gbegudu(Okitipupa 1-APC), suggested that the House Committee on Security should visit the community.
He said there was a need to sensitise parents so that they could educate their children and wards on ways to behave on campus and in the host community.
Similarly, Dr Chris Ogunlana (Irele-APC) advised the traditional ruler and other leaders in the community to caution their people and invoke spiritual incantation on perpetrators of the heinous crimes.
Ogunlana added that it was incumbent upon the community to rise and place a curse on the perpetrators so that students could be saved.
In his contribution, Mr Stephen Abitogun(Akure South 2-APC) noted that the killings had brought disrepute to the university’s host community.
Abitogun urged the community to come together and reject the trend, stating the need for relevant bodies to sensitise the people and take proactive measures in preventing similar occurrences.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Chief Olamide Oladiji, asked the House Committee on Security to visit the university and its host community.
Oladiji, who read the resolution of the Whole House on the matter, asked the state’s Ministry of Women Affairs to come up with sensitisation and orientation that would be of help to the students.
He enjoined the state government to facilitate the establishment of a dedicated campus security task force in collaboration with the university management and community leaders.
According to him, the security should launch a full-scale investigation into the killings and bring all the culprits to justice.
The Assembly also committed the bill to establish the Ondo State Coastal Agency to the House Committee on Transport and Public Utilities.
