by Rachel Ogbu
Investigation into the killing a University of Uyo student began yesterday as the National Universities Commission, the Nigerian Police and the council of the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State met.
The student was said to have been shot by the police on Wednesday while students were protesting the introduction of fee in their General Studies and also an increment in bus fare.
[READ: UNIUYO mayhem: One student dead, 45 arrested by police (PHOTO) ]
[READ: #InCaseYouMissedIt: NANS Senate President, 4 others die in car crash on their way to UNIUYO ]
On Monday, NUC’s acting chairman, Inter-ministerial Committee on Campus Safety and Security, Adebisi Balogun, condemned the death of the student while inspecting the destroyed facilities on the university’s campus.
“Whatever had happened or whatever should happen within the Nigerian university system among students and staff, there should not be loss of life. And that is why the Executive Secretary of NUC has sent us as an inter-ministerial committee,” he said.
“The Minister of Education was concerned about the loss of life of a student; they are the future human resources of this country –they are the future leaders of this country. Nobody should be happy about the loss of any single life, at all.”
“This one is going to be investigated. We have come to look at the circumstance leading to the killing of the student and at the same time the university will provide more information, more investigation to ascertain the reasons, and know who is culpable for the killing of the student.”
“We are still investigating, the police are still investigating, and the university has set up their own committee to investigate the matter. Definitely this is beyond just a N100 transportation fare.”
[READ: University of Uyo students set several buildings ablaze during protest (PHOTO) ]
The Punch reports:
While inspecting the university’s property damaged during the fracas, Balogun said the destruction affected the offices of Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics; Planning, Vice Chancellor, Portal and the Exams and Records Department.
He explained that the fact that Exams and Records and the university’s portal offices were set ablaze hours after the VC office had been destroyed showed an indication that the process was an afterthought and a result of a well-conceived plan.
The VC, Prof. Comfort Ekpo, said the increase of the transport fare from N100 to N200 daily from town campus to the permanent site was based on agreement with students’ union leaders.
She said it was shocking to see the level of destruction carried out by the students on an issue that they had settled.
The VC, while conducting the team around the destroyed facilities, lamented that all efforts to pacify the protesting students failed as they were not ready to listen to any entreaties.
She said the protest was led by a small group of students.
She said, “They forcibly locked the gates of the university while shouting and disrupting activities and peace of the town and annex campuses.
“When it became apparent that most students were not interested in the demonstration, they proceeded to force their way into classrooms where lectures were taking place and disrupted ongoing lectures.
“They wreaked a lot of havoc within and outside the campuses, disrupting public movement and throwing stones at the police who had been stationed outside the campus to maintain peace.”
Meanwhile, the UNIUYO alumni association on Monday condemned the incident that led to the wanton destruction of life and property in the university.
At an extra-ordinary meeting of the association at Nsukara Ufot, Uyo, the institution’s main campus, it called for a probe into the incident.
did any body see the pixx of those police men shooting tear gas? cos from that pix you could tell how happy those police men were shooting the tear gas and bullets and is it not insane to say that students were throwing stones at the police if the police had not force them to do so? when you push someone to the wall what do u expect, that the person will stay there? if the vc was around why didn’t she come and address the student when the whole thing started like a joke to them and if she was not around how then did she know the students were not willing to listen?
student did not fi any gun that day, there were only throning stone, while police were busy throning tear gas into the two campuses, and also shot a student, the victim shouted bullet and bend, they rushed to d nearby hospital were he died, that was when every problem started.. What student excepted from the V.C was clearification on sudden transportation fair increment, but all what she could do was to call police to come and fight the student, while the police that suppose to be our friend turn out be our Enemy, my soul of that innocient boy rest.
This message goes to Madam VC. With due respect why can’t you just say the truth? You are indeed a bad mother, what you just commented do you think will promote security or insecurity, do you think you can ever live safe again? You called a police during a peaceful protest which i am a life withness. Where were you when we needed you to speak to the students? You wicked woman, what did you espect when a police shots a gun on someone, after 10mins, he is dead, before he died the whole police ran away, you taught the students will go back and fold their hands. Education was meant for us to think smart, but it also makes some of us think like a rat, which you belong there. 2years ago, this same students your children protested at the Governors office for the release of your napped husband. Why should this same children turn their back against their mother? Nma Comfort blame yourself for all the problems that went on, stop looking for someone to put it on. Uniuyo was cult free at the hands of past VCs, your regime is devastating. I’m so ashamed. I will let you to God almighty and Your conscience if you still have one. May you not face your greatest fear. Have a nice life. One on should ever preach of change in this country because he is a maggot, so i’m i now. For the reporter, well i don’t wanna blame you guys, you can find the truth, just dig dip and dipper. Gold is never on the surface.
University..of..uyo..had..always..bin..a..peaceful..place..4over..15yrs..now,not..until..d..regime..of..comfort..ekpo.”no..one..should..say..d..event..was..delibrate..as..there..ws..no..report..of..exchange..of..gunshots..btwn..students..and..d..police.