UNIDENTIFIED MAN HITS FCE STUDENT WITH A WOOD - Federal College of Education, Abeokuta Blog

Federal College of Education, Abeokuta Blog

The Highway to an excellent future....

LATEST NEWS:

FCE PAYMENT OF ACCEPTANCE FEE IS ON-GOING | SCREENING STILL ONGOING AT FCE, ABEOKUTA FOR NCE (JAMB&NO-JAMB CANDIDATE) | FCE ABEOKUTA (NCE DUAL-MANDATE PROGRAMME 2026/2027) REGISTRATION FORM IS OUT | COLLECTION OF SOR AND NCE CERTIFICATE: MON. – FRI. 8AM – 2PM

Friday, May 14, 2021

UNIDENTIFIED MAN HITS FCE STUDENT WITH A WOOD

INCIDENT INVOLVING AN UNIDENTIFIED MAN AND “DIVINE BOIS” AT FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ABEOKUTA

The Federal College of Education, Abeokuta, Ogun State, has for many years been regarded by members of its community as a peaceful institution. Recently, the College celebrated 40 years of peace as a higher institution. However, on 16 April 2021, an unusual and disturbing incident involving some students of the College attracted significant attention and generated strong reactions among students and members of the surrounding community.

The students involved were reportedly members of the Department of Theatre Arts and were popularly known as the “Divine Bois.” They were described as young entertainers who engaged in comedy, TikTok videos, skits and other forms of entertainment. According to accounts circulating at the time, the students were in the vicinity of the College's main gate participating in the production of a comedy skit when an unidentified man allegedly approached them carrying a log of wood.

Reports about the incident stated that one of the students was participating in a scene that involved bathing with a traditional sponge and soap while wearing only his underwear. The activity was reportedly being recorded as part of the entertainment performance, while some friends and other students were present around the location.

According to the accounts of witnesses and information circulated within the College community, an unidentified individual suddenly approached the students from behind and struck one or more of them on the back of the head with a piece of wood. The attack reportedly happened unexpectedly, leaving the students with little opportunity to understand what was happening or to protect themselves.

One of the students, who was reportedly the principal participant in the bathing scene, was said to have sustained a serious blow to the head and subsequently lost consciousness. Accounts from the incident claimed that he went into a coma immediately after being struck. Another member of the group reportedly managed to escape from the individual who was allegedly pursuing them with the log of wood.

The incident quickly attracted the attention of other students within the College. Students who witnessed or heard about what had happened reportedly became angry and concerned about the safety of their colleagues. The seriousness of the situation was heightened by reports that one of the students had been rendered unconscious following the alleged assault.

Alleged Misunderstanding of the Comedy Performance

One of the explanations reportedly given for the unidentified individual's actions was that he had misunderstood the students' activities. It was alleged that the man believed the students were engaged in an open money ritual or other ritual-related activity at the College's main gate.

However, according to the accounts surrounding the incident, the activity was reportedly part of a comedy skit or entertainment production rather than an actual ritual ceremony. The alleged misunderstanding appears to have contributed significantly to the confrontation.

Rather than seeking clarification from the students or people around the scene, the individual was reportedly convinced by what he observed and allegedly decided to intervene. The situation subsequently escalated into physical violence.

It is important to distinguish between the allegations surrounding the incident and independently verified facts. The claim that the man believed the students were performing a ritual was part of the explanation circulated after the event, while the precise circumstances and motivations behind the confrontation would ultimately require confirmation from witnesses.

Reaction from College Students

Following the incident, students reportedly gathered in large numbers and expressed their displeasure over what had happened to their colleagues. The condition of the injured student, particularly the report that he had lost consciousness, generated considerable concern and anger. The situation reportedly became increasingly tense as students attempted to locate the unidentified man. According to accounts circulated at the time, the man eventually escaped from the immediate area.

During the course of the commotion, students reportedly turned their anger toward the vehicle believed to belong to the unidentified individual. The vehicle was allegedly attacked and severely damaged by the students. The destruction of the vehicle reflected the high level of anger within the student community at the time. Nevertheless, such actions also demonstrated the danger of allowing an emotionally charged situation to develop into further violence or property destruction.

Protest at the Student Affairs Department

After the confrontation and the reported destruction of the vehicle, a large number of students reportedly proceeded to the Student Affairs Department of the College to demand action concerning the incident. The students were seeking justice for their colleagues and wanted the College authorities to address what they regarded as an unacceptable attack on students within the College environment. Their reaction was reportedly influenced by the belief that the assault could have resulted in the death of one of the students.

The incident therefore developed beyond a disagreement between individuals and became a wider security and disciplinary issue involving the College community.

Response of the College Authority

In response to the situation and the possibility that the incident could lead to further unrest, the College authorities reportedly took measures to prevent an escalation of violence. One of the immediate decisions was to close the College temporarily and direct students to leave the premises. Students were instructed to return to the institution on the date scheduled for their examinations.

The decision was reportedly intended to restore calm and prevent the situation from attracting individuals who might take advantage of the disorder to engage in criminal activities, violence, vandalism or other forms of misconduct.

Although the closure may have inconvenienced students, it was presented as a precautionary measure designed to protect lives and property and prevent the incident from developing into a larger crisis.

Aftermath of the Incident

The incident involving the “Divine Bois”, an activity intended as entertainment was reportedly misunderstood as something more serious, resulting in a confrontation with potentially severe consequences. Members of the public who encounter unusual activities should seek clarification from those involved or contact the appropriate authorities rather than taking the law into their own hands.

Ultimately, the events of 16 April 2021 became a notable incident in the history of the Federal College of Education, Abeokuta. The reported assault on members of the “Divine Bois,” the subsequent student reaction, the damage to a vehicle and the temporary closure of the institution demonstrated how quickly an isolated misunderstanding can develop into a major disturbance.

After the incident, the Provost of the College, Dr Rafiu Soyele mandated that all students must resume back to the College on the start date of their examination to prevent further escalation of the incident.

The incident serves as a reminder that conflicts within educational communities should be handled through dialogue, investigation, and lawful procedures. Protecting students, maintaining institutional peace and ensuring accountability are responsibilities that require cooperation between students, staff, security personnel, and the wider community.

2 comments: