Dr K.F. Ariyo, a lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), has been accused of assaulting a 200-level student who strayed into a class where he was giving a lecture.

The university said it had launched an investigation into the alleged assault.

A student identified as Gift reportedly strayed into Mr Ariyo’s class on Wednesday but quickly exited after realising he had entered the wrong class.

“He (Mr Gift) thought the class was meant for him as well. When he saw that the faces in the class were strange, he quickly dashed out. The lecturer then called him back,” a witness stated. “After a while, we discovered that the lecturer invited the security personnel to take the student. He also dragged the student’s phone.”

A viral video of the incident showed the student struggling with a man said to be a security guard. When the student tried to press his phone, another man, identified as Mr Ariyo, shouted, “Don’t call anybody! Switch off that phone! You can’t be more than me, even if you’re the VC’s son. I won’t take this from you. Switch off the phone!”

The student replied, “What did I do?”

Then, the man began punching the student as other students in the class watched in amazement.

Peoples Gazette could not independently verify Mr Ariyo as the attacker. The lecturer could not be immediately reached for comments.

Meanwhile, the Students’ Union spokesperson, Elijah Omisore, demanded the prosecution of the lecturer.

“The lecturer is planning to apologise but we’re not taking any apology. We want the necessary prosecution,” the students’ representative stated. “Around 10:00 a.m., the union leadership got information that a lecturer, Dr Ariyo, was harassing Gift, a Part 2 student. Information has it that Gift mistakenly walked into the lecturer’s class trying to locate the venue for his lecture but learned that it was not his class and left immediately.”

The students’ representatives added, “Still, he was called back by Dr Ariyo, and an argument erupted, leading to a physical assault from the lecturer against the student. We demand an open hearing and a public apology from Dr Ariyo to the generality of Great Ife students.

“That the lecturer and the entire department make a commitment that the victim and other students in the class won’t face any form of victimisation moving forward.”

Confirming the incident, the university’s spokesman, Abiodun Olarewaju, disclosed that the matter was under investigation.

“We’ve seen the video. The vice-chancellor is not happy about it. We are not known for such behaviour and we have decided to go administrative concerning this and we will make our findings known. But for the main time, we just want the students to remain calm,” said Mr Olarewaju. “The VC has called the Dean of the faculty involved, who will get in touch with the Head of Department and get in touch with that lecturer.”

The Alliance of Nigerian Students Against Neo-Liberal Attacks (ANSA) described Mr Ariyo as a serial abuser of several OAU students.