Monday, October 20, 2025 | Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State
Contrary to the version of events published by some online platforms suggesting that the recent arrest of four members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) branch, was politically motivated or orchestrated by the university’s Vice-Chancellor, fresh investigations by CoolNews Nigeria have revealed the true circumstances behind the police action.
Reliable insider sources within the university community, including eyewitnesses at the scene, confirmed that the arrest of the union officials stemmed directly from a violent confrontation that occurred during a maiden meeting between the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, and members of the university community shortly after his resumption.
How the Chaos Started
According to multiple accounts, the Vice-Chancellor had convened the meeting as part of his peace and reconciliation initiative aimed at addressing lingering staff grievances and restoring unity among all campus unions. The meeting, held at the main auditorium, was initially calm and interactive, with staff and union representatives in attendance.
However, midway into the session, events reportedly took a dramatic turn. The four SSANU officials — identified as Comrades Faleye Benjamin (Chairman), Ademola Mutiu, Oyelude Yekeen, and Aluko Ayomikun — allegedly began interrupting proceedings and making heated verbal attacks on the Vice-Chancellor. What started as verbal altercations quickly escalated into physical confrontation.
One senior staff member who witnessed the scene told CoolNews Nigeria that “the VC was directly assaulted when the men charged toward the podium, shouting and attempting to disrupt the meeting. The situation became so tense that many people fled the hall for safety.”
Another source described the atmosphere as “a near mob action” that could have turned tragic.
“It took the quick intervention of the university’s security operatives and other senior officers present to rescue the VC from being lynched. Everyone was shocked because it was supposed to be a peace meeting, not a battleground,”
the source added.
Police Invitation and Detention
In the aftermath of the incident, the matter was formally reported to the police for investigation. To forestall further breakdown of law and order, the Ekiti State Police Command invited the four individuals for questioning.
CoolNews Nigeria gathered that the officers arrived at the State Police Headquarters in Ado-Ekiti, where they were interrogated and asked to make written statements detailing their roles in the violent episode.
Police sources confirmed that, given the serious nature of the assault allegations, the initial plan was to detain the suspects for further questioning. However, the process took a new turn following the direct intervention of both the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Fasina, and the Chairman of the University’s Governing Council.
VC and Council Chairman Intervene for Their Release
Despite being the victim of the attack, insider reports indicate that Prof. Fasina personally appealed to the police not to escalate the matter further, stressing the need for reconciliation and peace on campus. The Governing Council Chairman was also said to have made a formal representation to the police leadership, urging for leniency in handling the issue.
Following their joint intervention, the four detained officials were released after they had completed their written statements.
“The VC insisted that peace was more important than revenge. He told the police to release them after due documentation so that normalcy could return to the university,”
said a source close to the management.
Distorted Narratives and Online Reports
Meanwhile, Sahara Reporters and some other online outlets had published a version suggesting that the arrests were politically motivated and that the detained SSANU officials were humiliated and stripped on the orders of the suspended Vice-Chancellor.
However, insiders who spoke to CoolNews Nigeria described those claims as “deliberate falsehoods” designed to mislead the public and incite tension within the institution.
“There was no stripping, no humiliation, and certainly no political directive from the VC. The police acted independently based on the reported incident. What Sahara Reporters published was a completely one-sided narrative,”
a senior security official said.
University Management Reacts
When contacted, a senior member of the university’s management who spoke on condition of anonymity reaffirmed that the institution supports lawful unionism but will never tolerate violence in any form.
“Every staff member has the right to belong to a union, but no one has the right to assault or attempt to physically attack a university official, not to talk of the Vice-Chancellor himself. The management remains committed to peace and dialogue but will not compromise discipline and respect for institutional authority,”
the official stated.
Peace Returns to FUOYE
As of press time, normal academic and administrative activities have resumed across the campus. The four officials have since returned to their duty posts, while the police are said to be conducting discreet follow-up investigations to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
Stakeholders within the university have commended the Vice-Chancellor and the Governing Council for their maturity and restraint in handling the matter, describing their intervention as a demonstration of true leadership and commitment to institutional stability.
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