Policemen drawn from different formations in Lagos on Wednesday took over the gate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), preventing protesting students and others from entering the campus.
The policemen, who came in about 20 vehicles, were joined by the university security personnel and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.
It was gathered that protesting students, who were coming to the campus from the Sabo area of Yaba were dispersed by Policemen who fired teargas canister at them.
Videos that went viral online showed some of the protesting students running and scampering for safety.
Visitors and admission seekers who wanted to gain access into the campus for screening exercise were turned back by the security personnel
Some of the students it was learnt later regrouped and moved towards the university gate but they were prevented from moving closer by the policemen.
Visitors to the university and admission seekers who wanted to gain access into the campus for screening exercise were turned back at the gate by the security personnel.
Speaking on behalf of the students, the President-Elect of the Faculty of Education Students Association, Balogun Oladeji Ibrahim accused the Police Area Commander, whose name he gave as ACP Ayodeji A, of ordering his men to shoot at them and that he also arrested some of their colleagues.
He told Vanguard Newspaper that two students — Femi Adeyeye and Philip Olatinwo — were arrested by the Police.
Ibrahim however said that they will continue to lay siege to the campus until the duo are released.
We will continue to lay siege to the campus until Femi Adeyeye and Philip Olatinwo are released -UNILAG STUDENTS
The University management has however come under condemnation over the action of the Policemen.
Some of the reactions on X (Twitter) are:
Kemi @d_problemsolver: ‘It’s so unfair to the students. The students have the right to go on a peaceful protést. It’s freedom of speech. On second thought, the timing of the protest is wrong. Today is the Tribunal Judgment.’
D Last Don @elton_pedro: ‘What’s this country becoming??? So is protests illegal now? Are they implying that every law or policy should be enforced and no one should complain?’
Testimony Korede @JIGGYBOY41: ‘SHAME ON UNILAG !!!
SHAME ON THE VICE
CHANCELLOR OF UNILAG
SHAME ON THE DSA
SHAME ON THE SENATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS.
Look at what they turned our peaceful protest to’
Oyiga Michael @Nsukka_Okpa: ‘IF ANYBODY DIES TODAY AT UNILAG, THE VC SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE!!!!!!
HOW DO YOU SHOOT AT PEOPLE’s CHILDREN???!!!!’
The management of UNILAG had in July released a breakdown of the reviewed obligatory fees for both new and returning undergraduate students per academic session/year.
Approved charges for one academic session for new undergraduates are N126,325 and N176,300 for courses without lab/Studio and for courses with lab/studio respectively.
Returning undergraduate students studying courses without use of lab/Studio are now to pay N100,750 per session; those studying courses with use of lab/studio are to pay N140,250 per session.
The newly approved charges for medical students is N190,250 per academic session/year.
However, in addition to the new fees charged, new undergraduate students are to pay N10,000 for Toxicology test for screening and another N20,000 utility charges.
Returning undergraduate students are also to pay N20,000 utility charges, while all final year students are to pay N30,000 convocation fee. There is also charges for field trips where such is a mandatory requirement of the course of study.
Management of the university disclosed that the adjustment in fees takes effect from 1st Semester, 2023/2024 Academic Session; explaining that the review was in view of the prevailing economic realities and the need for the University to be able to meet its obligations to its students, staff, and municipal service providers among others.
See the videos, as posted on social media:
