Security agents shoot at UNIJOS students, 11 injured

Security agents on Tuesday reportedly shot at protesting students of the University of Jos, Plateau State, injuring 11 of them. The students were publicly protesting against an alleged increment in school fees.

Military operatives had stormed the school premises as the protest entered its second day, shootng and arresting some of the students.

Daily Trust quotes the Student Union’s Public Relations Officer, Longgun Dakwon, as saying:
 

“I narrowly escaped, the military came into our classes and shot some of us while some were arrested and now the school authority is asking us to vacate our hostel when some of us have only N30”.

The STF spokesperson, Captain Ikedichi Iweha, however debunked the claim that his men were responsible, saying that his men were also injured after miscreants hijacked the protest.

He said: 

“There were other security agents there and there was a shooting in which four students were injured. However the shooting was not carried out by STF. On the first day of the protest, the students poured water on us and stoned us but we exercise restraint. Today there was need for reinforcements so other security agents had to join.”

 “The school property is under threat because they have allowed miscreants to hijack the protest, four of our men were injured during the protest yet we exercised restrain, their protest should be within the bounds of law.”

The University Registrar, Mr. Jilli Dandam, later released a statement on behalf of the school management, asking students to vacate their hostels.

“In order to avoid further escalation of the situation, the management met this morning decided that the school be closed down until further notice. Students are therefore directed to vacate their hostels”.


PHOTO CREDITS: Daily Trust