By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan.
Security was last Friday beefed up at the University of Ibadan community over alleged circulation of a mail purportedly written to all Staff of the institution by a suspected Boko Haram group of alleged plan to bomb the institution.
But in a swift reaction to the said mail, the institution’s Director of Communication, Mr Olatunji Oladejo while dismissing the purported threat attributed it to the handiwork of mischievous individuals.
New Nigerian gathered that following the mail reportedly circulated to some lecturers, through their institutional e-mail addresses or were copied through social platforms such as WhatsApp to share the letter by a group that identified itself as “al-wilayat al-Islamiyya Gharb Afriqiyyah”
It was learnt that the group in the said mail allegedly threatened to bomb the University before Independence Day on October 1, 2016 with students and staff as their targets as well as describing the university as an embarrassment to Nigeria for bringing western education.
“You people are an embarrassment to Nigeria and are the people that brought in western education to Nigeria. You doomed this nation and in turn you all are going to be doomed. Most of you are going to die before Independence Day. You will not spend the Independence Day in peace, you and your students,” the letter read in part.
The group in the said mail added that “detonation will start going from tomorrow till Independence Day and there is nothing you can do as we are among you. Even your little searches at the gate won’t do anything. By the time we are through with you, your government will be sorry.”
Following the said mail, there were heavy security at the Institution’s gates with scanning devices as well as stop and search of vehicles coming into and moving out of the University campus resulting in many of the workers resuming very late having spent about an hour at the gates
Speaking on the alleged threat mail, the Institution’s Director of Communication,Mr Olatunji Oladejo said the alleged threat was the handiwork of mischievous individuals who wanted to cause commotion in the school,adding that there is total peace in the University campus present.
“I also got it. Anyone could instigate such thing. Some people could be mischievous. Our international students are having their carnival on the campus and everywhere is peaceful. I attribute it to the handiwork of mischievous individuals and vehemently deny any commotion.”
Speaking with the New Nigerian, Oyo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mr Adekunle Ajisebutu said the command in conjunction with other security agencies is doing everything possible to prevent any ugly occurrence in and around the University.
DSP Ajisebutu declared that the state Police Commissioner, Mr Adegbuyi is in contact with other security heads in the state at ensuring that no chance is given for threat to peace.
The PPRO stressed that as at the time of sending this report, plain cloth detectives have been drafted to the University’s community and its environs.
