Federal Poly Oko Atani Campus Students Flee School Over Attacks From The Youths

Students of Federal Polytechnic Oko, Atani Campus in Ogbaru local government area of Anambra state calls on President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano and School Rector, Dr. Izuchukwu Onu to come to their rescue as the host communities (Atani and Akili Youths) vows to kill students. The menace that started as just burglar 3 years ago has turned into a life-threatening event in the last few months. Most students of the campus which comprises Computer Science and Maths and statistics departments have deserted the community and abandoned their studies for their dear lives. In the past couple of months, students of this campus especially those based in Akili (Senator Stella Odua’s hometown) have been witnessing a life-threatening events from the youth. They beat, stab, steal, harass and threaten to shot students at will. During one of the attacks, luck happened to be on our side and we caught the thieves and took them to the community vigilante but they quickly released them on the grounds that they are jobless and find stealing the only way to survive. Same with the police. The campus authority turned a blind eye to the situation. Even when some students were threatened to be killed by some youths, the school management didn’t deem it necessary to respond to their report. The students tried to protect themselves by limiting their movements and always behind locked doors. Those that own generators packed it up because of fear of the unknown. They changed plans and began to rob us in broad day light. According to one of the victims; “After my generator was stolen, I tried all i could to get the culprits but all failed so i met one Indigene and narrated my ordeal to him, he told me that they know those that specialized in stealing generator that he would meet them and beg them to release it for #20,000. I was ready to pay but unfortunately, i was told the next day that they had sold it.” In July 10 boys from Atani attacked one lodge and made away with 11 laptops, 10 phones and molested the girls. When one of them was apprehended, the police discharged him. On Sunday 7th October, they attacked two lodges, stole the student’s phones, laptops, TV, stabbed a student and shot guns on the process. The leaders of the Host communities know those behind these heinous crimes but decide to shield them for reasons best known to them. The students are now protesting that they no longer want to stay in the community (Ogbaru LGA), that they want to join their counterparts at the school main campus in Oko. Students pay huge fees in the campus yet there is no drinking water, extremely terrible network and light, the students pay outrageous house rents for houses they will have to leave when the seasonal flooding begins. Source