The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Benin branch has threatened not to resume academic activities in the institution on April 28 if immediate actions are not initiated to nip in the bud incessant violent attacks on its members and management staff.
The union said the measure became necessary following what it described as the attempted murder of Dr. Presley Osemwengie, a lecturer in the Department of Economics by some members of the Executive Committee of the University of Benin Students Union.
This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by Ray Chikogu and Success Abusomwan, chairman and secretary, respectively of ASUU Uniben branch.
The union noted that members will not embark on teaching and research in an environment in which lecturers are prime targets for brutalisation or elimination by some students they are labouring to impact with the wealth of their intellectual property.
According to the ASUU leaders, “On that fateful day, the President of the Students Union marched upon a gathering of staff of the University and their invited guests.
“The students union president ordered them to discontinue their interaction as he was not pre-informed and consequently, did not grant permission for the interaction to be held.
“In the resulting melee, Dr Presley Osemwengie was attacked; hit in the back of his head with a small axe and left for death 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.
“At the time, 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,” the statement added.
