Students of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY) have remembered their colleagues, who were killed in a clash with the vigilante group of the institution's host community 13 years ago. AKINOLA OLUYI (ND II Mass Communication) reports.

May 8 remains a sad day for the students of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY).

In 2000, what started as an argument between students and members of Offa Vigilante Group in an off-campus hostel escalated into a clash in which four students died.

The polytechnic came under siege as students and members of the town's vigilante group clashed, forcing the management to close down the institution for more than six months. When the dust settled, four students were killed; scores escaped with injuries.

Muhydeen Bankole, Abdullahi Kabiawu, Emmanuel Adeagbo and Nurudeen Ayinde were the casualities.

Thirteen years after, students of the polytechnic have remembered their slain colleagues. Every May 8 is set aside to commemorate the "efforts" of the deceased, who students said fought for their freedom from the polytechnic's host community.

"The likes of Kabiawu, Emmanuel, Nurudeen and Muhydeen may have gone but their memories still linger in our mind," an Engineering student said.

The mayhem, CAMPUSLIFE learnt, ensued when the vigilante group imposed a ban on students from visiting certain places in the community and restricted their hours of movement to 9pm. It was gathered that the vigilante also told the students to always put off their hostels' light at night.

Students rejected the imposition, describing it as an assault of their liberty.This resulted into argument, which later turned bloody. Akinniyi Jegede, who was in ND I Mechanical Engineering at the time, told CAMPUSLIFE: "When I got admission in that year, the polytechnic was peaceful. There was nothing like crisis of any form. But when we resumed for the second semester, the vigilante tried to impose some order on us; they issued information that all student in the community must stay indoor starting from 9pm. We disagreed with them and protested. Many lives were lost, even properties were destroyed in the school. We lost students. It is a memory I will never forget."

Remembering the slain students in a programme held in Adesoye Hall on the mini campus with the theme: Only the land of peace germinates the seeds of progress, students, who were clad in black clothes, held lit candles to mourn their fallen heroes.

During the memorial lecture, former Students' Union Government (SUG) president, Mr Mashood Bello Igbin, said the crisis that brought about the remembrance was as a result of the misunderstanding, misconception and misinterpretation.

He said despite pleas by the management and the SUG at that time, members of the vigilante group stormed the campus to destroy properties and kill students. He called for mutual understanding between security outfits and students, praying for the repose of the souls of the deceased.

Speaking, the SUG president, Hammed Omuiyadun, said it was necessary for people to always remember their heroes. "We mourn the martyrs of freedom from the shackles of oppressors. Truly they were the sacrificial lambs for the present liberty being enjoyed by the students of the institution. We love you all but God loves you most, adieu," Hammed said.

Matthew Fabusiwa, ND 1 Mass Communication, said: "Despite the fact that I was in secondary school during the crisis, I was aware of the damage the crisis caused the community. It saddened the heart because we were shocked when the news spread that many students had been killed. With these, I am sending my condolence to the families of the deceased. God will give you the heart to bear the loss. Security agencies should always engage in dialogue rather than using lethal weapons against us."

Michael Ijiyede, HND II Mechanical Engineering, advised the management to always support the remembrance, which he said served as a means to further make sacrifices to society.

Other highlights of the occasion included candlelight procession across the host community. Also, the students gathered to pay tribute to the slain students at a location on the campus.