10 People Arrested, Scores Injured As Students, Police Clash In Ibadan
At least ten persons were on Tuesday arrested during a clash between students of the Federal College of Agriculture, Moor plantation, Ibadan, and policemen, even as many people were injured in the melee.
It was gathered that among the injured were four police officers, who were part of the team drafted to quell students’ riot against the management of the institution.
The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, while relaying the incident that led to the clash, said that eight police vehicles were also damaged by the students.
After a major disagreement between them and the school’s authorities, the students mobilized themselves in large numbers and trooped to the Ibadan-Abeokuta expressway around 6.30a.m, where they blocked the main road linking Oyo and Ogun states.
This led to disruption of vehicular movement, forcing users of the busy road to take alternative routes.
The students were said to be displeased with the administrative style of their rector, Babajide Adenekan, calling for his removal from office.
Although the rector had been having running battle with virtually all the staff unions in the institution for some months, which had led to seasons of strikes, the students thought getting him out of the system was the only way to achieve peace.
It was gathered that the rector invited the police when the students blocked the main road.
Odude confirmed that the five arrested persons were students of the institution, adding that they would be charged to court soon.
“It (the crisis) has been an on and off situation. We have been on this for the past six months, meeting them and trying to resolve the issues. We have met the student union leaders and the school authorities.
“We told the students that they should limit their activities within the school because once you deprive others the use of a public facility, you are acting against the law.
“Today (Monday), they blocked the main road during their protest and we sent some policemen there. But they became violent and attacked the policemen.
“Four policemen were injured and they are now in the hospital. Eight police vans were damaged too. We had to use force to push them back into the school. That you are a student does not give you the liberty to break laws. Those who were arrested will be charged to court at the end of investigations,” the CP said.
