Kogi Poly Student Arrested For Illegal Possession Of Pistol, Ammunition

...Expels 4 Students, Rusticates 1 For Exam Misconduct

 

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

 

 

 

 

Few days after the Academic Board of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja approved the expulsion of four students over issues bordering on examination misconduct and other social vices, the security operatives of the institution have arrested one Shehu Tenimu Mohammed, an ND II student of the Department of Public Administration for being in possession of a locally fabricated revolver pistol while making his way into the campus.

This was disclosed in a Statement from the Polytechnic signed by its Head of Public Relations and Publication, Mrs Uredo Omale and made available to journalists in Lokoja at the weekend.

According to the statement, the student with Matriculation Number 2018/ND/PAD/170 was, in addition to the illegal possession of the pistol, also carrying five rounds of live ammunition while making his way through the main entrance of the Polytechnic on Friday, 9th April, 2021.

“The arrest of the student was made possible by the strong security network put in place to halt any attempt to breach the ban on End-of- Examination Celebration.

“It would be recalled that the ban itself came into force in view of intelligence report that some suspected cultists would be coming to the campus with ammunitions to avenge their colleague who was killed after the end of examination in 2019

“Management under the proactive leadership of Dr S.O. Usman therefore beefed up security on campus, including daily routine check at the Polytechnic entrance and the premises.

“Ever at alert, the security operatives of the institution had on Thursday, 8th April, 2021, impounded a Tricycle, (Keke NAPEP) which apparently was intended as a decoy for hiding and releasing gun shots outside the school gate.

“In the same vain, the gallant security operatives also arrested a non student suspected to be a hired machinery with a charm made “African – bullet proof” on the campus on 7th April, 2021. The suspect who have since been handed over to the law enforcement agency claimed that, he came to the campus to celebrate end of the examination with his sister.

“It was the continuation of the security check at the gate that led to the arrest of Shehu Tenimu Mohammed who was coming to the campus purportedly to write his ND II final examination on Friday, 9th April, 2021.

“Mohammed was stopped by the ‘stop and search’ officer and was asked to hand over his belongings.

“He took to his heels when he realised he would be caught with live ammunition, but it was too late for him

“He has since been handed over to the appropriate law enforcement agency for further interrogation and investigation” the statement added.

The Rector, Dr Salisu Ogbo Usman, has assured members of staff, students and the general public that no stone would be left unturned in the efforts to ensure that sanity is restored on the campus to make the atmosphere conducive for teaching and learning.

The Rector who commended the security unit of the institution for a yeoman’s job however appealed to members of the Polytechnic community to always be on the side of the law.

Meanwhile, the expulsion of the students was part of far reaching decisions made at the Board’s meeting held on Thursday, 1st of April, 2021 at Hall A of the institution’s Main Campus in Lokoja.

The Board Chaired by the Rector, Dr Salisu Ogbo Usman, also approved results of First Semester for the 2019/2020 Academic Session.

The students expelled for examination malpractice were Aliu Abdulrahman, an ND I student of Science and Laboratory Technology (2019/ND/SLT/216), Shaibu Danjuma (HND I), Graphic Department (2018/HND/IDD/011) and Hadiza Abubakar (2018/HND/CPS/183), an HND II student of Computer Science Department.

Another student, Abudulmalik Wahab of the Mechanical Engineering Department (2018/ND/ME/043 was also expelled and with an added clause of never to be offered admission into the institution, for being in possession of dangerous weapon and evidence of involvement in cultism.

Durojaiye Helen Taiye, an HND II student of the Industrial Design (2018/HND/IDD/007) was found with extraneous materials not related to the particular examination inscribed on her palms, and was rusticated for one semester.

The Rector, who appreciated the committees on examination misconduct for the thorough job done, said the Polytechnic would not condone any act capable of bringing it to disrepute, and therefore, appealed to students to always be on the side of the law.

He expressed satisfaction with the successful end of the just concluded Computer Based Examinations for General Studies Courses just as he commended the committee on E-Examination for a job well done.

Dr Usman further explained that the postponement of SUG Elections, Students’ Week and NAKOSS elections till next session was part of the plan to ensure adequate security of lives and properties on campus.

He reiterated Management’s commitment to make Kogi State Polytechnic the best among the comity of higher institutions of learning.

Present at the Academic Board Meeting were the Deputy Rector, Dr Kehinde Lamidi, Acting. Registrar, Mallam Zubair O. Raji, Acting Librarian, Mrs O. M. Audu, among others.