CAMPUS LIFE gathered that, on May 8,ago, a female student was hit by a group
of mechanics who were pushing a vehicle along the way. Her insistence on an
apology from the mechanics led to an argument which soon degenerated into a
fight when some other students came to defend the girl who was being molested.
Kazeem continued: "Leaders of the SUG ran to the palace of the Olofa of
Offa to ask him to call hiscitizens to order. The king was not in then, but met
the Eesa of Offa, Chief A. Bukoye, who was the second-in-command. He
immediately called for a meeting to be held on campus.
"Present at the meeting, apart from some Offa leaders, were representatives of the SUG and FEDPOFFA management. The meeting was still going on when the local guards invaded the campus with guns, machetes and charms. As gunshots rang out, the meeting came to an abrupt end and everyone scampered for safety."At the end of the madness, four students lay dead, scores were wounded, many others beatento pulp and some female students raped. In the stampede, fleeing students brought down the polytechnic’s fence as the invaders had blocked the main gate.
CAMPUSLIFE further gathered that many students who managed to escape trekked for kilometers through bush paths to neighboring towns, such as Erin-Ile, Iraa, Ipee and Ijagbo, among others, where they went into hiding for days before Good Samaritans could raise money for their transport fares to go back home.
Fortunately, the Federal Government closed down the institution, while anti-riot police and soldiers were immediately drafted to maintain peace. The polytechnic remained closed for one year. All paid dues because, where students lost one year of study, the locals most of whom earned their livelihood through businesses mainly patronized by students counted their losses.
According to Sangaruwa, "after darkness, light came". "The fracas of May 8, 2000, as shocking as it was, brought about freedom from the manacle of the oppressors". Since the re-opening in 2001, FEDPOFFA students have been treated like kings and nobles. The students now see themselves as indigenous, no longer as strangers. A common song on campus sang during the 10th commemoration, is ''ema pewa lalejo mo, awa yin ni ani ilu '' meaning: "Don’t call us strangers anymore, we own the community together".
(FEDPOFFA)REST IN PEACE THE LIVING LEGEND LONG LIVE FEDPOFFA
Get info about May 8th in the History of Fedpoffa:This story was narrated by Kolawole Daud Saw Publishrf by Alabi Abdulateef Olatunde: Lead Researher FedpoffaConnect Group Offa, Kwara State
"Present at the meeting, apart from some Offa leaders, were representatives of the SUG and FEDPOFFA management. The meeting was still going on when the local guards invaded the campus with guns, machetes and charms. As gunshots rang out, the meeting came to an abrupt end and everyone scampered for safety."At the end of the madness, four students lay dead, scores were wounded, many others beatento pulp and some female students raped. In the stampede, fleeing students brought down the polytechnic’s fence as the invaders had blocked the main gate.
CAMPUSLIFE further gathered that many students who managed to escape trekked for kilometers through bush paths to neighboring towns, such as Erin-Ile, Iraa, Ipee and Ijagbo, among others, where they went into hiding for days before Good Samaritans could raise money for their transport fares to go back home.
Fortunately, the Federal Government closed down the institution, while anti-riot police and soldiers were immediately drafted to maintain peace. The polytechnic remained closed for one year. All paid dues because, where students lost one year of study, the locals most of whom earned their livelihood through businesses mainly patronized by students counted their losses.
According to Sangaruwa, "after darkness, light came". "The fracas of May 8, 2000, as shocking as it was, brought about freedom from the manacle of the oppressors". Since the re-opening in 2001, FEDPOFFA students have been treated like kings and nobles. The students now see themselves as indigenous, no longer as strangers. A common song on campus sang during the 10th commemoration, is ''ema pewa lalejo mo, awa yin ni ani ilu '' meaning: "Don’t call us strangers anymore, we own the community together".
(FEDPOFFA)REST IN PEACE THE LIVING LEGEND LONG LIVE FEDPOFFA
Get info about May 8th in the History of Fedpoffa:This story was narrated by Kolawole Daud Saw Publishrf by Alabi Abdulateef Olatunde: Lead Researher FedpoffaConnect Group Offa, Kwara State
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