Rights group condemns killing of FUOYE students

• Seek democratic probe into the cause of crisis

Education Rights Campaign (ERC) has condemned the cold-blooded murder of protesting students of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE).The group, in a statement jointly signed by the National Coordinator, Hassan Soweto and the National Mobilisation Officer, Wole Olubanji, described the incident as barbaric and unacceptable.

Recall that two students of the school were shot dead by police officers attached to the wife of the Ekiti State governor, Bisi Fayemi, while others were reportedly injured.

The students were protesting outage that has shrouded the campus and its neighbouring communities.The peaceful protest turned bloody when the protesting students encountered security officials attached to the office of the First Lady, who was on a tour in the area.

“What is paramount in this unfortunate development is that Bisi Fayemi, an unelected citizen of Nigeria, has by virtue of her spousal relationship with Governor Kayode Fayemi converted state forces of coercion to her use and in the application of that force snuffed life out of two undergraduate students peacefully protesting for improved power supply.

“It is against this background that the ERC calls for immediate and democratic public probe of the incident by a panel composed of elected representatives of students and labour unions, community associations and civil society to unravel the cause of the incident and the culpability of Bisi Fayemi and her security details in the incident.

“We insist that this cannot be treated just as another murder committed by highly placed person that is swept under the carpet. If found culpable by the probe panel, Bisi Fayemi and all accomplices must be prosecuted in accordance with the law. We also demand the stripping of all governors wives and the wife of the President of the unconstitutional office of First lady and the use of paraphernalia of state power,” the statement read in part.”The group also condemned the banning of the students union by the university management, maintaining that the right to associate is constitutional.”We call for restoration of the students union and warn against victimisation of students.”