By Ozioruva Aliu, BENIN CITY

AS a fallout of the disruption of an interactive session between the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Olumide Akpata and staff of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) at the Senior Staff Club which resulted in the beating and injuring of a lecturer, members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Benin chapter have threatened not resume work for the Second Semester academic session billed for April 28th.

The lecturer, Dr Presley Osemwegie was injured during the interaction on April 12 on the allegation that they (students) were not informed on the session and Akpata over the weekend visited Osemwegie where he also debunked allegations that his security personnel shot a student of the institution during the incident. He accused a top government official of masterminding the attack on him.

A press statement on Monday signed by the UNIBEN Branch Chairman and Secretary of ASUU Ray Chikogu and Success Abusomwan said Osemwengie “was attacked; hit in the back of his head with a small axe and left for dead in the pool of his own blood by some of those in the company of the Students Union President.

“It is necessary to note that this worrisome trend began with the assault by both students and non-students of the University on the person of the current Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin in September 2021 when she was humiliated and marched from her residence to the Main Gate of the University in very hostile circumstances. Other similar and very unsavoury incidents in which students of the University of Benin have threatened and brutalised lecturers of the University have also been reported at different times. This cannot continue.

“To the end that our members will feel safe to conduct their business of research, teaching, and supervision going forward from the 28th of April 2024 (being the date of resumption for the next academic session) therefore, and without prejudice to the work of the Committee set up by the University Administration to investigate the incident at issue”, the union among other things demanded that “All the identified students, including members of the executive committee of the Students Union of the University of Benin, who participated in the event(s) that led to the attempted murder of our colleague should be taken through the disciplinary process and sanctioned as appropriate.

“All other identified culpable individuals, whoever and wherever they are, must be made to face the full wrath of the law.

“We must reiterate the point that, subject to the authorization of the Principal Officers of our Union, our members may not be available to resume academic activities on the 28th of April 2024 if immediate action and the necessary processes are not immediately initiated regarding the demands made above.”