Every 8 May has been set aside by the management and the entire students of Federal Polytechnic Offa for remembrance of their fallen heroes who lost their lives in a bloody clash that occurred between the students and the community vigilance group.
It was exactly ten years ago, May 8, 2000 when the vigilance group attacked students led by the then Student Union President, Comrade Kazeem Olasupo, at a protest in Offa township. The protest, Campus Square gathered, was meant to express their grievances over the manner in which the group related with the students, especially non-indigenes.
In the battle that lasted for several days, various weapons such as guns (locally made ones), cutlasses and charms were used. A National Diploma (ND) 1 student of Business Administration Department, Comrade Kosoko Kabiawo, and two other students were killed, while several others were injured. The bloody clash led to the indefinite closure of the school and the vigilance group was subsequently scrapped.
In a chat with Campus Square, an eyewitness and former General Secretary, Federal Polytechnic Offa Student Union Government (SUG), Comrade Muhammad Isiaq Olanrewaju, said the unforgettable incident started when a student returning home was hit by a commuter taxi-driver and the driver, an indigene, refused to apologise but instead put the blame on his victim.
“Some students, who were present, felt that their schoolmate was cheated and insisted that the driver would not go without taking care of the victim. Immediately, some indigenes invaded the place in order to support the driver, and it led to a bloody street fight,” he narrated.
Comrade Isiaq said one of the students quickly rushed to the school to inform the SUG officials about the incident and the then President sent his Sport Director to investigate the matter.
“What we later heard was that the Sport Director was also beaten by the angry youths. The following day, the SUG president called Congress, mobilised students, and we made a peaceful protest to the Palace of Olofa of Offa, and the Owode Police Station. On our way back to school, the members of the vigilance group attacked us. We didn’t hav any other option than to defend ourselves,” he said
Comrade Isiaq, popularly known as Ijoba, further stated that there had been a series of misunderstandings between the students and the vigilance group and the indigenes. He cited a situation where students were punished by the group for talking aloud in the night around 9 p.m.
“On many occasions, the students were flogged by the vigilance group for leaving the doors or windows opened. The molestation continued until one day when we protested but there was no positive response because they got support from the school authorities, ” he stated.
Campus Square learnt that the vigilance group was inaugurated in 1996 and got full support from the then first Rector, Dr. (Mrs.) Taiwo Osenoko, who believed that the group will help curb the increase in cult activities in the school since its inception in 1992 during the General Ibrahim Babangida regime.
Campus Square learnt that since inception there was no successful Student Union election until 1999 when Comrade Kazeem Olasupo was elected as the first SUG president.
Speaking with Campus Square on phone, the General Secretary, SUG, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Comrade Bishop Oluwafunsho, said this year's edition holds at the school Multi-purpose Hall. He added that students will holda prayer session and march in procession around the school in memory of those that lost their lives.
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