Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH) students have protested the raping of female students and armed robbery by unknown gunmen.

The students, on Thursday, partially blocked the Okitipupa-Igbokoda expressway, impeding free-flow of traffic to register their grievances.

Damilola Okunomo, the Students Union Government’s president, said the hoodlums robbed students and raped female students at gunpoint.

Mr Okunomo disclosed that four female students were raped two weeks ago.

“We are tired of this insecurity. Armed hoodlums usually come to our off-campus hostels, rob students at gunpoint and also rape our female students. The school management is not doing enough. We are the ones securing ourselves by working as vigilantes most times; the situation is terrible.

“We urge the school management to do its best in securing us and complete all the uncompleted hostel accommodations in our campus as this will also guarantee our security,” Mr Okunomo said.

Reacting, Ilemobayo Oguntimehin, the dean of Students Affairs of OAUSTECH, stated that the school was doing its best to secure lives and property.

He added that the university was having a security meeting with the police, other security agencies and traditional rulers to address the situation.

He assured the students that their security was paramount to the institution’s management.

Mr Oguntimehin said, “We have been holding several security meetings over these issues, but we cannot expose the meeting, and I think the students are aware of this too.

“Presently, the management, the board council are having security meeting with the police, other security agencies and traditional rulers to arrest the situation, and I am assuring the students that they will be secured.”

The school official appealed to the protesters saying, “I urge the students not to take laws into their hands and allow the management to resolve these security issues amicably.”

He also appealed to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) to complete their respective hostels to enhance the security of students.

(NAN)