DELSU: Deo-Gratias, Sheriff Security Companies Must Go, Says Umukoro

-Wants VC Quizzed For Covering Criminal Activities In Site 3

-Security Operative Linked To Kidnap Of Staff, Students Arrested

-As Management Moves To Rejig Security Apparatus

By John Tega

The Secretary of Urhobo Progress Union, Comrade Efemena Umukoro, has said that he has been vindicated, after a supervisor of one of the security outfits in charge of Campus 3, Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, Mr.  Raymond, was linked to a kidnap gang that is alleged to have murdered him.

This comes after the death of Late Elozino Ogege, a 300 Level student who was murdered for ritual purpose by an ex-convict who was employed by Deo-Gratias Security Company, one of the security outfits in DELSU. 

You would recall that few months ago, the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Youth Wing, Worldwide raised alarm that DELSU management has employed criminals as security men due to the numerous cases of kidnapping/robbery in the school premises linked to security men and the confession of kidnappers arrested by the police that they use Campus 3 as their hide out and camp to keep kidnapped victim before ransom is paid by their family members and associates.

Speaking to Oasis Magazine (OM), Comr. Umukoro said that “after the killing of Late Elozino Ogege, the youth body demanded that DELSU management disengage the security outfit due to the lack of background check of their workers as seen in the employment of one Onos who was an ex-convict and is said to have assisted the ritualists that killed Elozino. 

According to him, in response to the demand of UPU youth wing to disengage the said security outfit, the school management headed by Professor Victor Peretomode decided to victimize him and even went as far as moving to withdraw his certificate after graduating from the institution.

Umukoro disclosed that the VC petitioned the Abraka Divisional Police headquarters, Sapele Area Command, DSS Asaba and the State Command, Asaba, all in a bid to intimidate him and the union from demanding justice for Elozino Ogege’s death.   

He said that this situation almost led to unrest in Abraka Community when the he was invited for questioning due to the decision of the union to embark on a peaceful protest to remove the said security outfit for her negligence and involvement of her staff members in the gruesome murder of Elozino Ogege.

Speaking further, he revealed that another security operative has been linked to several kidnap issues, saying that the said kidnap gang used Site 111 as hide outs to keep their victims till they collect the ransoms from family members of their victims.

Information from sources shows that Mr. Raymond was killed by members of his gang due to a failed deal which he refused to remit after their illicit trade.

He continued: “Our question is: Why has the VC decided to keep the criminal security company despite the agitation of HOSTCOM and UPU Youth wing? 

“Why is the VC using the lives of Innocent students to play games by employing hardened criminals as security men, while he window dresses on the pages of newspapers that he is committed to protecting the lives of student and non-students. 

“Should we continue to keep silent and allow these criminals to bring bad name to our community or continue killing and kidnapping us; why is the VC now a voice to the said contractor?  Don’t you think there is complicity between the management of DELSU and these criminals due to the reoccurrence of kidnapping and ritual killings in DELSU?

“If the people responsible for the protection of lives and properties of students and lecturers are same people kidnapping, robbing and killing them, is DELSU conducive for learning?”

He commended the Delta State Police Command headed by CP Adeleke Adeyinka for bringing to justice the criminals, adding that this development has made him more confident that if the Nigeria Police force is given all necessary support, they can combat crime effectively. 

Furthermore, he called on the Governor of Delta State, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa to step into the issue of disengaging the said security companies.

This, if done, he said, will help stop the continuous killing of people in the town.

He added: “We equally call on security agencies to immediately arrest the VC for him to explain why he is covering the criminality happening in campus 3.

Meanwhile, in a press release, the university management said that “the general insecurity and criminal activities in Nigeria have reached alarming state, as tertiary institutions are not spared of attacks. The print, electronic and social media are awashed with news of hoodlums, kidnappers, robbers and bandits terrorising tertiary educational institutions in the country in recent time.”

According to the release, “arising from this horrible security situation, the Management of DELSU is taking proactive and urgent measures to safeguard the entire University community, particularly students and staff, adding that “the University has secured the services of Nigeria security agency to compliment the efforts of the Private security outfits presently operational in Campus, especially as students are set to resume academic activities for the 2019/2020 academic session in September, 2019.”

OM gathered that this new security agency will assume operation with effect from Sunday, November 1, 2019.

The university tasked the private security personnel operating in the university to cooperate with the public security agency in ensuring maximum security of staff, students and properties in campus. 

“Management also intends to review its security apparatus in all campuses; especially as the contract of the private security outfits with the university will expire in November, 2019.

“While the University is doing everything possible to secure lives and properties in and around the campuses, it is worthy to note that security is personal and everybody’s concern. Therefore, Management implores every member of the University community to be security conscious and to report any suspicious movement or person to the appropriate security authorities immediately,” the release added.