ASUP condemns attack on members by soldiers

Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) branch, has condemned the recent assault on the assistant-general secretary of the union by soldiers.

Addressing reporters on the assault of a Computer Science lecturer, ASUP YABATECH Chairman, Mr. Olusegun Ajiboye, said the lecturer intervened when the soldiers were assaulting some students on campus but they turned round to beat him up.

Ajiboye said the lecturer lost a tooth and had to receive treatment from the hospital.

The Chairman said the management of the institution had intervened and the hospital bill will be paid by the soldiers.

Ajiboye said it was the first time the union was witnessing physical assault from soldiers.

They are our friends, we go to their officers’ mess to eat. We live like neighbours. It is not good for soldiers to enter a campus and beat staff or students,” he said.

He said the soldiers came for a different mission and while returning to the barracks they saw students taking pictures and the military men assumed the students took their pictures and they attempted to seize the phone.

Ajiboye explained that the lecturer intervened but was beaten by the soldiers. He said the management of the college got across to their Commander and the soldiers were arrested and they agreed to settle the  medical bill of the lecturer.

The victim, Mr. Adebayo Adeniran, said the soldiers numbering 10, tried to beat some HND Accounting students who were taking pictures while they were celebrating their last day in school and he defended them. But the military personnel assaulted him.

Adeniran said, “We need the soldiers and they also need us. We are all working for the peace and unity of the country. So, nobody is superior to other. We need to work together. We want people to know that we are not mediocre and that we are law-abiding people but will not take rubbish from anybody.”

ASUP also said it intends to build an ICT centre at Epe campus of the institution for the benefit of members and that already, the management had allocated land for the project.

He said the branch would hold an International conference from November 16 to 17.

He explained that promotion was ongoing as members would soon receive thei letters while the branch election would hold in December.