EKPOMA – Students of the Ambrose Alli University, (AAU), Ekpoma-Edo
State have threatened legal action against a newspaper over report suggesting the university’s students to be deeply involved in cultism and armed robbery.
A national newspaper had published an article titled: Edo: Inside Story of Killings, Inter-cult clash in Ekpoma, wherein the author alleged that students of the university, mechanics, artisans and farmers in the university community were cultists.
The article similarly accused AAU students of been behind gruesome bank robbery operations that have taken place in Ekpoma town.
A statement signed by the president of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the institution, Comrade Uyiosa Bryan Igbinigie, described the article authored by one Fred Itua as a deliberate attempt to damage the reputations of the university, its students and the entire people of Ekpoma and Esan ethnic group.
The statement consequently called on the author and newspaper to retract the article it described as ‘Odous’ and render unreserved apology or face litigations.
“In the said piece, Mr. Itua claimed that the cult members are the robbers that robbed Banks at Ekpoma. How did Mr. Itua get to know these robbers? If he knew the robbers, let him report to the police for proper investigation. For the fact that Mr. Itua knew these robbers is enough for the police to go for him.
“It takes cult member to know a cult member. If Mr. Itua is one, he better renounce his membership so as to separate the substance from the chaffs…the university is no longer trying to find its feet, but firmly and deeply rooted like the rock.
“Our vice-chancellor, Prof. Cordelia Agbebaku who was appointed on acting capacity on May 2, 2011 and then confirmed as a substantive vice-chancellor in March, 2014 has taken the university to enviable height”, the statement stated.
On the allegation of the members of the institution’s SUG been cultist, the statement clarified that, “students vying for positions in the Students’ Union are usually screened by the police, SSS and the electoral commission body. None of our students’ exco belongs to any cult group”
