The Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, and some other principal officers of the school were on Monday attacked by armed hoodlums over a land dispute between the university and the host community.
It was gathered that some land grabbers, who are indigenes of the ancient town have been hell-bent on taking some part of the land belonging to the university for personal use. Some of the land speculators had built houses on the land and ignored warnings by the university management to exit the gazetted land.
Some of the hoodlums laid siege on the Obafemi Awolowo University community and attacked the Vice Chancellor, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, and some management staff of the University.
The land which belongs to the University has been taken over by some land grabbers who hired the hoodlums for protection.
The Vice Chancellor of the University and some top management staff had tried to visit the place when their vehicles were attacked and forced to turn back.
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In his reaction to this development the vice chancellor of the university, Prof Eyitope Ogunbodede said the management of the university will continue to maintain peace with the community.
He stressed that the management will sit at a round table to find a lasting solution to the continued crisis on the university’s land
Though no life was lost, the hoodlums were seen brandishing cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.
Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe
