MAY 8 2000 - IN HISTORY THE LIVING LEGEND - FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC OFFA... A DAY TO REMEMBER!CAMPUS LIFE gathered that, on May 8, years ago, a female student was hit by a group of mechanics who were pushing a vehicle along the way.
Her insistence on an apology from the mechanics led to an argument which soon degenerated into a fight when some other students came to defend the girl who was being molested.
Kazeem continued: "Leaders of the SUG ran to the palace of the Olofa of Offa to ask him to call his citizens to order. The king was not in then, but met the Eesa of Offa, Chief A. Bukoye, who was the second-in-command. He immediately called for a meeting to be held on campus.
"Present at the meeting, apart from some Offa leaders, were representativesof the SUG and FEDPOFFA management. The meeting was still going on when the local guards invaded the campus with guns, machetes and charms. As gunshots rang out, the meeting came to an abrupt end and everyone scampered for safety."
At the end of the madness, four students lay dead, scores were wounded, many others beaten to pulp and some female students raped. In the stampede, fleeing students brought down the polytechnic’s fence as the invaders had blocked the main gate.
CAMPUSLIFE further gathered that many students who managed to escape trekked for kilometres through bush paths to neighbouring towns, such as Erin-Ile, Iraa, Ipee and Ijagbo, amongst others, where they went into hiding for days before good Samaritans could raise money for their fares To go home.
Expectedly, the Federal Government closed down the institution, while anti-riot police and soldiers were immediately drafted to maintain peace. The polytechnic remained closed for one year. All paid dues because, where students lost one year of study, the locals most of whom earned their livelihood through businesses mainly patronised by students counted their losses.
According to Sangaruwa, "after darkness, light came".
Great Fedpoffites.
