A bomb threat has left undergraduates and staff of University of Ibadan (UI) in a state of palpable fear and heightened tension.
A letter purportedly written by al-wilayat al-Islamiyya Gharb Afriqiyyah, a Boko Haram group, was on Friday circulated to students and members of staff.
The group threatened to carry out series of bombings on the institution, for bringing in and entrenching western education in Nigeria.
Lecturers were sent the memo through their official e-mail addresses while it was also circulated on WhatsApp.
“You people are an embarrassment to Nigeria and are the people that brought in western education to Nigeria”, the group said.
“You doomed this nation and in turn you all are going to be doomed. Most of you are going to die before Independence Day. You will not spend the Independence Day in peace, you and your students.
“Detonation will start going from tomorrow till Independence Day and there is nothing you can do as we are among you. Even your little searches at the gate won’t do anything. By the time we are through with you, your government will be sorry.”
Meanwhile, Olatunji Oladejo, director of communication, UI, told Punch that the threat was merely mischevious antics from some individuals.
“I also got it. Anyone could instigate such thing. Some people could be mischievous. Our international students are having their carnival on the campus and everywhere is peaceful. I attribute it to the handiwork of mischievous individuals and vehemently deny any commotion.”
Adekunle Ajisebutu, spokesperson of the state police command, was quoted to have said: “We have received the information. The state Commissioner of Police, Samuel Adegbuyi, working in concert with the other security agencies, has put in place all necessary security arrangement to forestall such an ugly incident.
“We have deployed our intelligence officers to provide adequate security in the school. As it is, it is still a rumour but we don’t want to take things for granted and because of this, we have provided adequate security, not only for the school, but for the people of the state.”
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