Tension is thick in the air at Federal Polytechnic Ede in Osun State following a recent brazen public display by cultists and the inaction of the school management over the issue.

In an unmistakable sign that cultism may now be gaining ground in one of Nigeria’s most respected polytechnics, a group of daring student-cultists undertook a parade in their uniform, cruising round the campus with cars after their last paper in early August.

The student-cultists cruised from the school main gate to the school sport complex, where they had their meeting, a gathering celebrating the last paper of their finalist-members.

Investigations by News Express showed that some student leaders in the school secretly petitioned the management over the troubling display in the campus by the cultists. They appealed to the school management to bring the identified students to book.

However, no action has been taken by the management, two months after the incident and attendant complaints.

A student activist who spoke on the condition of anonymity expressed regret, saying that with the silence of the school management on the cult display, “the school which is much known for peace, morals and zero tolerance for cultism may soon become a hotbed of cultism.’’

“We have called the attention of the school management to the cultist display, with pictorial evidence and videos. The authorities claimed to be aware of the display and assured to take action but till today the story has been carpeted.

“The management cannot ignore such because they demonstrated right in from of the Administrative building to the school pavilion,” he lamented.

Another student who also did not want his name disclosed described the silence of the school management as “dangerous and detrimental to the wellbeing of the student community."

In a statement issued on the heels of the cult display in August, the school management had promptly ordered the restriction of student vehicles into the campus but the order has since been lifted.

A source close to the school management confided that it may have decided to ‘forgive’ the cultists to avoid students protest that could lead to ‘unnecessary disruption of academic calendar', having witnessed a setback in the calendar due to the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).

“Ede Poly that I knew would have pasted their names outside the main gate and that is the end of their education here. The silence is not golden, it is dangerous for not just Students alone but the campus community,” the source added.

However, when contacted both the Ede Poly Chief Security Officer (CSO), Mr. Odushina, and Dean, Directorate of Students Affairs, Dr. O. S. Omotosho, denied knowledge of the August cult display.

“It is outside of my purview, but there is nothing of such; you can contact the school PRO,” Dr. Omotosho said.

When contacted, the School PRO, O. A. Lawal, towed the line of the Dean of Students Affairs.

He said: “I’m also repeating it now that nothing of such happened. The campus is calm; we have never witnessed any form of cultism in our citadel since the inception way back in 1992, and it will never happen. It has to do with our age-long tradition and motto of the institution, which is ‘KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND CHARACTER’. Once again, be rest assured that we have zero tolerance for any form of social vices.”

When asked if the students who were photographed and video-recorded during the rally have been pardoned despite evidence, the school spokesman said: “It was just a figment of imagination.”

He confirmed that no student was tried for cultism recently, saying: “To the best of my knowledge, we have not tried any of our students, so the question of pardoning anyone is out of it.”

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