SUG Election: School Management Speaks As Hoodlums Reportedly Open Fire In Ede

The management of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State, has denied reports claiming that suspected hoodlums opened fire within the institution’s premises amid the ongoing Students’ Union Government (SUG) election.

A Facebook post that went viral on Monday alleged that there was a shooting incident on the campus, prompting fears and confusion among students and residents.

The post also advised members of the public to avoid the area due to alleged insecurity.

However, in a statement issued on Tuesday in Osogbo, the Acting Director of Information, Protocol, and Public Relations of the institution, Mr. Sola Lawal, dismissed the claim as false and misleading.

He clarified that while there were “pockets of violence” in parts of the Odo-Eja area of Ede town, the incident had nothing to do with the polytechnic community or the ongoing student election.

“Setting the record straight, it is imperative to inform the general public that while we are not unaware of violence in some isolated parts of Odo-Eja axis of the town on Monday, this development has nothing to do with the Polytechnic community,” the statement read.

Lawal described the alleged shootings within the polytechnic as “baseless and unfounded,” urging the public to disregard the rumour.

He added that the management had already put adequate security measures in place to ensure peace and safety throughout the election period.

“The purported shootings within the polytechnic environment are mere imagination of rumour peddlers. The management wishes to assure parents, guardians, and students that the situation is calm and under control,” he stated.

The management also advised staff members and outsiders who have no official business with the election to stay away from the venue to avoid unnecessary tension.

Students were further urged to remain law-abiding and to conduct themselves peacefully, as any form of disorderliness would attract strict disciplinary measures.

The statement emphasized that the institution remains committed to maintaining law and order, assuring that normal academic and administrative activities continue without disruption.

This development comes as the school holds its SUG election under tight security to forestall a repeat of past violent incidents. The polytechnic had in July 2024 expelled 27 students and suspended eight others over their alleged involvement in violent protests that led to property damage on campus.