Authorities of the Gateway (ICT) Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State have shut the institution following the worsening security challenges around the polytechnic.
The institution also indefinitely put on hold the ongoing semester examination until “the security situation improves.”
The school was shut on Wednesday as students’ battled with robbery and rape cases around their residences took a frightening dimension in the last few weeks.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) had threatened a showdown with the Government over the abduction and robbing of students in some institutions in the state.
Chairman of the association, Kehinde Simeon, had while speaking with reporters on Tuesday, cited Gateway (ICT) Polytechnic, Sapaade and Igbesa as examples where students were grappled with the fear of kidnapping and robbery.
He asked the government to address the challenges within seven days or risk mass action.
The Acting Registrar of the Gateway Polytechnic, Saapade, J O Popoola, ordered students to proceed on mid-semester break immediately until the security situation improves.
The internal memo dated April 28, reads: “In line with the decision of the management, all students are to proceed on mid semester break with effect from the close of work on Wednesday, 28th of April, 2021.
“This is due to the security challenges around the students’ residences. Please note that the ongoing examination shall continue immediately the security situation improves.
“Meanwhile, all students should vacate their residences and go home. Any student that stays behind does so at his or her own risk.
“This is for your information and strict compliance.”
It was learnt two members of local vigilance group have been arrested in connection with the growing security challenges around the institution with some of them allegedly detained at the Police Command Headquarters, Eleweran.
But Ogun police spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the security situation in the area has not “degenerated to level of asking the students to go home.”
He told The Nation: “They might ask them to go home for any other reason.
“We are yet to be informed about that. And I believe that if there is anything like security threat, they suppose to confirm with the police then we all look at it and see how the security architecture of that place looks like.
“The Commissioner of Police is always ready to entertain complaints from anybody. Not only that he will entertain the complaints, he will take urgent steps to nip such situation in the bud.”
Asked if he was aware of any insecurity in the area, Oyeyemi said: “I’m not aware unless I find out from the DPO in that area. I don’t think we have a very serious security threat in that place.”
