Suspected
cultists have attacked an undergraduate student at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Afolayan Simon Awodola,
with a machete.
An
unnamed source who spoke to SaharaReporters
said the unidentified assailants
attacked
Awododa in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, around 9pm on Saturday.
“They
used a cutlass to cut Awodola on the forehead after he tried to fight back,”
the source said.
"I
understand that the assault happened around 9 p.m. on Saturday in Benin,” the
source told our correspondent over the telephone.
Awodola,
reportedly in his final year at UNIBEN, is also the president of the National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS).
The
source also said Awodola has been in a running battle with the he Secretary to
the Ondo State Government (SSG), Aderotimi
Adelola, and the Senior Special
Assistant on Youth and Student Affairs to Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Olumuyiwa Asagunla.
"These
two officials have been sponsoring a leadership tussle against Awodola because
they said he does not comply with orders,” he said.
“Mr.
Asagunla has been fighting against Awodola because they accuse him of not
siding with the government in power."
He said
Awodola was banned from public functions organized by the Ondo State government
while an 18-seater bus donated to NAOSS by the state government was also seized.
The
source further alleged that the cultists who attacked the student leader were
sponsored by politicians in Ondo because he has "been gathering support
for some candidates and organizing students and youths to rally round certain
candidates.”
Awodola
is reportedly receiving treatment at the University of Benin
Teaching Hospital (UBTH).
