By Oludamisi Ojo
Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), has cautioned land grabbers and encroachers, whose activities have stalled the peace and the pace of development in the institution.

It urged them to desist from their nefarious ways or face arrest and prosecution.
The University raised the alarm over what it described as incessant attacks, forceful land possession and trespass on the university’s lands by some indigenes of Oye-Ekiti on the various construction sites of the University.
It pointed out that the development was disturbing infrastructural development and the peace of the Ivory Tower.

Addressing reporters in Oye Ekiti on Thursday, FUOYE’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, said the management of the institution will adopt a civil and legal approach to tackling the ugly development before things deteriorate into chaos.

According to him, proactive actions are required to prevent the students who are already resuming academic activities on the campus after eight months of academic disruption as a result of the ASUU strike to have a hitch-free session.

The Professor of Agriculture urged the people of Oye-Ekiti to emulate their counterparts in Ikole-Ekiti, where another campus of the University is situated.

India 2022: Flamingos expect tough encounter with USA in Mumbai

He said the people of Ikole-Ekiti have been very peace-loving, highly supportive and understanding to the University community.

Fasina said they recently offered to build us a 500- seater auditorium and have used their rich network to bring several developmental projects to support the University, stressing that the leaders of Oye-Ekiti have been supportive, except for these people, who came to cause chaos from time to time.

He maintained that is not the management of FUOYE that would pay them compensation for the use of the land

which was taken over by the Federal Government for this University.
The VC said rather they should approach the government.

Fasina appealed to security agents to urgently come to the aid of the staff and contractors currently working on the various construction sites of the institution.

The Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the University, Mr Paul Ogidi said several cases of land grabbing and violent attacks were being experienced on daily basis.

The President of Oye Progressive Union (OPU), Elder Ola Oniyelu, said the community leadership has done its best to ensure that there is peace between the hoodlums trespassing on FUOYE land and the management but such efforts have remained futile after several attempts.

He advised the University Management to get any trespassers on the landed property arrested so as to forestall acts that may lead to the breakdown of law and order and disruption of ongoing construction works on the campus.