The Students’ Union Government (SUG) of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), has debunked rumours alleging that members of the Boko Haram insurgents invaded the university community.
Rumour emerged on Wednesday that some Boko Haram members have invaded the community, creating panic mostly among students and residents of Akungba-Akoko town.
The Union, in a statement issued on Friday, described the claim as false and capable of causing unnecessary panic among students and residents of the Akungba-Akoko community.
A copy of the statement signed by the Union President, Comrade Salami Akeem; General Secretary, Bakare Jamiu Abiodun; and Public Relations Officer, Ajidagba Mosadoluwa, was obtained by The Nation.
According to the statement, security agencies, including the Army and Police, were immediately contacted to verify the rumour and ensure the safety of the university environment.
The Union condemned the report as “misleading information which has caused fear, anxiety, and total dismay among students and the community at large,” suggesting that it may have originated from someone “highly intoxicated or under the influence of hard substances.”
Assuring students of their safety, the Union stated: “With great assurance, the community is free from any attack, and we urge students to remain calm and without fear but with security consciousness.”
It reaffirmed its commitment to prioritising the welfare and safety of students while advising them to stay alert and desist from spreading unverified information.
The development also comes barely two weeks after the Department of State Services (DSS) alerted the Nigerian Army to an alleged plot by members of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) to launch coordinated attacks on communities in Ondo and Kogi States.
In a confidential letter addressed to the Commander of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure, the DSS warned of “imminent attacks” by ISWAP terrorists and urged heightened surveillance and security deployment across vulnerable areas.
The letter, signed by one H. I. Kana on behalf of the State Director of Security, was titled “Imminent Attacks in Ondo State by Members of ISWAP.”
According to the document, the targeted communities in Ondo State include Eriti-Akoko and Oyin-Akoko in Akoko North-West Local Government Area, as well as Owo town, headquarters of Owo Local Government Area.
“Intelligence confirmed plans by members of Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) to carry out coordinated attacks on communities in Ondo and Kogi States anytime soon,” the letter read in part.
