The University of Ilorin has appealed to the Federal Government to assist the institution to retrieve its mini campus, forcefully and illegally seized by the Kwara State Government.

The appeal is contained in a letter dated June 26, signed by the university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, and addressed to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education.

A copy of the letter was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria uin Abuja on Sunday.

It alleged that on June 25, “armed personnel” of the state government “invaded the mini campus.”

It said that the armed men broke and demolished property in the facility, as well as harassed its occupants.

“Following the development, the governor of Kwara state, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, was contacted on the telephone and the incident duly reported to him,” the letter said.

It said the governor apologised for the action and said that the premises would be vacated within one month with effect from June 25.

The letter a says, “However, on-the-spot assessment of the premises belies the governor’s assurance.

“The entire Institute of Education, including classrooms and offices accommodation for staff has been taken over by the state government, thereby paralysing all the activities of the institute.

“Indeed, we found truck loads of sand, blocks, furniture, paper and records deposited in the premises which suggest restructuring of the place for permanent occupation.

It will be recalled that the old Kwara Government, in 1975, donated the facility as a temporary site to meet part of the condition to site the institution in Ilorin.

There was, however, no agreement that the university would relinquish the property to the state government.

Speaking with NAN on the issue, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba said that the building was not being forcibly taken over.

He said that parts of the building would be used to temporarily accommodate the State’s Board of Internal Revenue pending the completion of its permanent building on Ahmadu Bello way, Ilorin.

Oba told NAN that since the university moved to its permanent site, most of the buildings at the mini campus were not being put to use.