o fewer than 34 students of the Lagos State University have
missed the first semester examinations which began on Monday. The
students are currently in police detention following the killings of two
students of the institution. The implication of this is that the
students will automatically carry over all their courses.
The development could also lead to some of them having extra year
because some of the courses must be passed before advanced level of the
courses could be studied. Over 70 students were arrested in connection
with the killings of two students of the school, Hip Hop artiste,
Damilola Olaniyan aka Damino Damoche and Kabiru Atoyebi.
It was
learnt that after the suspects were screened at the Special Anti-Robbery
Squad, Ikeja, about 36 students were released while others remained in
custody. The Students Union Government of the institution had appealed
to the school authorities to ensure the suspected students were allowed
to participate in the examination, while their interrogation continued.
According to a source in the school, who pleaded anonymity, the SUG
feels that the students do not deserve to be treated like criminals
since they have not been found guilty.
He said, “The students were
indiscriminately arrested in their hostels by policemen and abandoned
in the cell since March 3, 2013.” But the SUG’s Public Relations
Officer, Adeleke Stephen, said, “This is a clear example of the effect
of cultism. I see no reason why students should not face their
education. For the good of all, I advise all students on campus to avoid
engaging in cultism and all acts that may lead to disorderliness.”
All
efforts to speak with the spokesperson for the institution, Sola
Fosudo, proved abortive as all calls made to his telephone rang out. The
Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. John Obafunwa, when
contacted, directed our correspondent to his deputy. However, a senior
official of the school, who craved anonymity, said it was not LASU’s
fault that the students missed sitting for the examination. He added
that the school would not make any concession for them.