Gboko students’ protest against tuition fees turns violent
All hell broke loose penultimate Wednesday in Gboko, Benue State, after a peaceful protest by the students of Fidei Polytechnic turned violent.
At least one student was killed in the incident while others, including two policemen drafted to quell the riotous situation, allegedly sustained injuries.
The students were said to be protesting against the management’s decision to stop students who were unable to pay their school fees from writing the second semester examination which started earlier on Monday before the protest was allegedly hijacked by a group of aggressive individuals suspected to be cultists.
Witnesses said trouble started the previous day (Tuesday) when some students who couldn’t pay their tuition fees attempted to stop the institution from proceeding with the semester examinations because they were barred from participating in the exam.
“The students who could not pay their tuition fees moved into the examination halls and started chasing away other students, insisting that the examination should not hold since they were not allowed to take part,” one of the students, who does not want his name mentioned, said.
The source added that the action of the aggrieved students suddenly turned chaotic as they pelted stones at vehicles, class windows and everyone while some of them quickly moved to destroy cars and buildings of the institution including the administrative block of the polytechnic which was set ablaze.
Police spokesman, Moses Yamu, who confirmed the incident, said the students earlier held a peaceful protest on Tuesday following which the management of the institution decided to shut down the school.
Yamu explained that the students later mobilised and came back to the school the following day (Wednesday) to set ablaze six vehicles and to burn down the administration department of the institution.
He said a disagreement occurred between the rampaging students who were allegedly looting stores and some officers of the school. There was chaos, violence and looting before the arrival of policemen.
Yamu said it was during the fracas that a student, whose identity was not revealed either by the school authorities or the police, was stabbed with a machete. He later died of the injuries from the attack.
According to the police spokesman, two of the policemen who were among those stationed in the school premises to keep watch were severely injured by the protesting students.
He however said that 21 people were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the violence and have since been charged to court while other students who were later found with items looted from the school including laptops were arrested and detained. He said those in detention will be taken to court after investigations.
Daily Trust also gathered that clashes and sporadic shootings around the school surrounding continued unabated for some hours, causing residents and travelers along the nearby road to scamper to safety.
One student said the peaceful protest which was meant to persuade the management to change its decision on stopping students who could not pay fees to take exams, was allegedly hijacked by suspected violent cultist group.
Another student, who pleaded anonymity, said that the crisis degenerated into a rival cult clash and that the suspected members engaged the security operatives who were drafted in to protect lives and property of the institution in a gun duel.
“We suspected that the deceased student was probably stabbed to death by a rival cult group but I can’t say who he was,” the student added.
Meanwhile, the body of the deceased student, which was shown to journalists, had several machete cuts, suggesting that he was stabbed.
The incident made the Benue State government to immediately direct the indefinite closure of the school.
A source at the school said that the management had later reached a resolution to reopen the institution and ask each student to pay a fine of N32, 200 for damages and that evidence for such payments must be provided by returning students as ‘gate pass’ into the school premises for screening which will last between September 12th and 24th.
The source said students would also be required to present identity cards and admission letters, two letters of undertaking to be of good conduct; one from student and the other from their parent or guardians as well as receipts and evidence of all payments made by students.
The Rector, Ugo Abah, said normalcy had returned and the school reopened on September 12. He however refused to make comments about the rumour making the rounds that each student will pay the sum of N32, 200 for the repair and replacement of damaged items during the violence.
“I’m not disposed to talk about it,” he said.