Thursday, April 10, 2025 - The management of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, has announced a shutdown of the institution.
The announcement on Wednesday is coming after a violent
confrontation involving suspected cultists near the institution’s gate on
Tuesday.
The incident reportedly led to serious injuries and fears of
a fatality during the clash between two rival cult groups.
A disturbing video shared on Facebook by a user, Lamina
Omotoyosi, filmed during the violence, showed a man in a white shirt striking
another individual with a hammer as two others stood nearby.
In the aftermath of the incident, officers from the
Anti-Cultism Unit of the Osun State Police Command were deployed to restore
calm around the institution.
Dr Tope Abiola, Dean of Students’ Affairs, confirmed that
the violence occurred just outside the school premises and noted that several
people were injured.
He further explained that the critically injured individual
was a former student of the polytechnic.
“We were inside the campus when gunshots rang out. From what
we gathered, one person was critically injured.
“He completed his National Diploma about two years ago. One
of the other victims sustained injuries from stray bullets,” Abiola added.
The Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Police
Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, said all injured individuals were receiving treatment
at a medical facility.
He did not confirm any deaths resulting from the clash.
Reacting to the unrest, the polytechnic’s management ordered
all students to proceed on a one-week mid-semester break, starting Thursday,
April 10, 2025.
The Registrar, Abiodun Oloyede, in a memorandum dated April
9, 2025, also announced the indefinite postponement of the matriculation
ceremony earlier scheduled for Thursday.
Students were urged to use the break to pay outstanding fees
and finalise their registration, with the management warning that no further
appeal shall be entertained.
The internal memo stated: “Given the pleas and appeals
received from some set of students who have not been able to pay their school’s
fees and have not completed their registration formalities, Management has
magnanimously granted a one-week mid-semester break from Thursday, April 10 to
Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
“This is to allow all defaulting students to pay their
school fees and complete their registration procedure. Consequently, the
Matriculation Ceremony for the 2024/2025 Academic Session, earlier scheduled to
hold tomorrow, Thursday, April 10 2025, has been postponed.
“A new date shall be announced in due course. All students
are therefore enjoined to avail themselves of this break and pay all their fees
and complete their registration as no further appeal shall be entertained.”
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