Hoodlums storm OAU, poison dam over land dispute

There was tension yesterday at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-ife, Osun state as hoodlums invade the institution and poisoned its dam over an alleged unending dispute over land. No fewer than 60,000 students and members of staff of the institution would be affected following the poisoned dam which provided water to OAU community.

The land dispute between OAU and some indigenes of the ancient town, however, assumed a new dimension as some of the aggrieved persons, claiming ownership of some portions of the university land, invaded the university Wednesday, last week and poisoned the university dam.

An investigation revealed by the university had shown that some indigenes, who claimed their land was taken for the university when it was established in 1962, had been selling some portions of the land.

 However, the development had heightened tension within and outside the university campus as the university’s residents including lecturers and the students were warned from indiscriminate water anyhow on campus. New Telegraph’s investigation revealed that the perpetrators of the deadly act who were suspected land grabbers, who perpetrated the act killed fish and other aquatic creatures in the dam.

However, in a petition written by the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Eyitayo Ogunbodede, addressed to Osun state Commissioner of Police, dated 8th April, 2019 and copied Director of State Security Services, Ile-Ife, entitled “Complaint of Criminal Pollution of Opa Dam, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife,” said the hoodlums gained access to the dam through a portion of the university land adjoining Parakin Area.

 It reads: “I wish to formally make a complaint of criminal pollution of Opa Dam in the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife by some murderous members of the Ife Community.