- Lectures Resume Amidst Persisting Fear By Students, Parents
THE HEAD of Information, Publication, and Public Relations of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO), Mr James Onogwu, has described as fake National Record’s report of panic that engulfed the institution Wednesday evening following rumours of possible herders’ invasion of Akpamuju, a community close to FUHSO, following a disagreement over cattle grazing on farmland.
It could be recalled that National Record had called Mr Onogwu at exactly 8:18pmafter some students of the institution, as well as some parents of the students, had frantically appealed for prompt reportage of the situation to draw the attention and intervention of government and security agencies.
Onogwu neither picked the call nor called back until mid-day (12:01pm) on Thursday.
Onogwu’s call to National Record, which ended before it was picked, was however returned soon after and upon and introduction, Onogwu began by describing the report of the incident as ‘fake’, noting that the report did not correctly name the acting vice chancellor of FUHSO.
RELATED STORY: Panic, Commotion In Fed. University Of Health Sciences, Otukpo Over Rumoured Invasion By Herdsmen
Even when the Editor-in-Chief, Mr Iduh Onah, who called him back, stressed that the newspaper got calls of the panic from both students and parents, and asked whether the report of the panic following the rumour was also wrong, even if the name of the acting vice chancellor was wrong, Onogwu answered in the affirmative.
He, however, inadvertently added that the acting vice chancellor came to address the students, and came along with security men to calm students fears late in the night, a scenario captured in National Record’s account by a student.
When Onogwu was asked by National Record why the acting VC had to come at that time in the night if there was no panic or commotion amongst students and parents to demand his presence with security men, Onogwu picked offence and, along with other staff who were obviously listening to the conversation, as he had put the call on speaker, began to rain insults on the Editor-in-Chief, who responded that that was a very poor manner in the management of information of a big institution like FUHSO.
Lectures resume amidst bated fear
The fear of attacked persisted until late morning on FUHSO campus, as lectures did not commence at the usual time of 8am, multiple students told National Record Thursday.
As at 10am when National Record spoke to some students, there were no signs of academic activities, as students were still in their hostels out of fear of the previous day’s rumours of attack, and also out of weariness as many of them had barely slept the night before.
Students, however were urged to return for lectures around noon when tension had cooled enough for academic activities to resume.
A student, however, told National Record that students were still apprehensive as members of Okpamuju community, who were seen by students fleeing in droves with their belongings, have not been sighted returning.
According to another student, the persisting fear arose out of the fact that there is little or no security presence as the security personnel that accompanied the acting vice chancellor when he came to address the students last night fizzled as the VC left.
A parent, who first alerted National Record to the situation in the university, said he did not sleep a wink till this morning.
He noted that even as at now, he and other parents he spoke with were still not comfortable and satisfied with the spartan nature of the security said to be available to secure the institution from any possible incursion by armed men.
Video of victims of ‘herders’ attack: Viewer discretion is kindly advised.
Meanwhile, a gory video clip of two men from Okpamuju community, who were allegedly attacked by suspected herdsmen, has surfaced.
The men being attended to at the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo, had deep machete cuts on various parts of their bodies – heads, hands and legs.
The video:
