by Stanley Azuakola

The authorities of Igbinedion University are disputing claims of deaths as a result of the clash within the campus on Sunday. According to the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Eghosa Osaghea, no single student was beheaded during the violent clash.

He said that a quarrel over a female student triggered the fight between two rival gangs at the institution.

“The fact of the matter is that in the early hours of Sunday, there was a misunderstanding among students following the damage to the vehicle of one of them outside the university campus in Okada town,” he said

“This unfortunately elicited unwarranted reprisal that involved damage to other vehicles by the aggrieved students and friends.

“Both actions ended up in agitation and skirmishes, but thankfully no life was lost.

“We gathered it was a boyfriend and girlfriend issues. It was a retaliatory attack.”

He disclosed that six students were injured but have all been treated and discharged.

The Vice-Chancellor also informed journalists that the state Commissioner of Police, Olayinka Balogun, visited the institution immediately news of the violence got out, in order to assess the situation. The commissioner found that the situation was under control.

Also, the VC refuted reported claims that those undergoing training at the institution were ex-militants, clarifying that they were youths from the Niger Delta region sponsored under the Youth Empowerment Programme in the Niger Delta Masterplan.