There is rising outrage in Bayelsa state over the flogging of a 300 level student of the Federal University, Otuoke in Ogbia local government area of the state by some youths over alleged offensive post on the social media describing the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s community as “small”, “under developed” and “filled with dirty drinking water”.
Emerald News gathered that the incident, which led to the allege physical assault and flogging of the 300 levels Economics and Development studies student of the Institution, Obi Nezie, has created tension among non-indigenes and indigenes of the area.
It was gathered that the state police command has also indicated interest to summon the community youths led by one Millow Richard Amalalaobebh to appear at the police headquarters for interrogation on the incident.
It was gathered that some youths of Otuoke community led by Millow Richard Amalalaobebh stormed the accused student’s home and dragged him to the community town hall where he was physically abused and brutally beaten by the youths.
According to a statement released by the said Millow, on his facebook page, he (Nezie Obi) was apprehended because he defamed the community by referring to it as small, has ninja mosquitoes, and also, the sun in the community was too hot for his skin.
The Irate Otuoke community youths also warned that it has come to our notice that some individuals including few students and former students Of Federal University Otuohe have taken it upon themselves to regularly dent and ridicule the image of the community and other respected personalities in the land of Otuoke on social media for no just cause.”
But the divisional police head in Kolo area division during his interaction with the community youths and the assaulted student, ordered that they release him because the allegation brought against the student is “absurd” and “trivial”
Meanwhile, the student union government of Federal University Otuoke, after series of investigation, discovered it was a pure literary fictional art and the descriptions were merely coincidental.
The Student Union leadership of the university and the National Association of Nigerian Students (Joint Campus Committee) have condemned the incident and demand that an unreserved apology be tendered to the assaulted student.
The students’ leadership demanded that “An apology be tendered to the student for physical abuse, abuse of his fundamental human right (freedom of expression/freedom to thought) as a full citizen of the federal republic of Nigeria. That no students should henceforth be taken to the community town hall to face any panel without the inclusiveness or authorization of the school management and the SUG”
“That no students should henceforth be arrested by the police on the orders of the community without approval by the school management and SUG. Negligence to these demands will lead and charge the SUG to involve relevant agencies, authorities, organizations, and or bodies concerned with students welfare in conjunction with the national association of Nigerian Students (NANS).Nevertheless, the sug wishes with utmost sincerity that a peaceful atmosphere exists between the students’ community and the host community (Otuoke village)”
