14th November, 2016
The students who reportedly barricaded the Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi highway, were said to be protesting an alleged 200 percent increase of their tuition fees.
It was reliably gathered that the management of the institution was earlier informed of the impending protest, but it failed to mobilize security early enough to neutralize it before the students arrived at the university’s gate.
An articulated truck laden with rice, was reportedly set ablaze after the goods were allegedly looted by the protesters.
A press statement issued and signed by the University’s Public Relations Officer, Edward Aihevbe, explained that the decision to close the institution indefinitely was reached after the University’s Senate reviewed the students’ protest.
He said the University’s Senate viewed the protest as uncalled for and unnecessary.
Aihevbe while denying social media report that two students were shot by security agents said the students were given until 4pm to vacate the institution.
“No student was shot. They barricaded the highway and soldiers escorting an Army vehicle that was passing the road had to shoot into the air to scare the students away,” he explained.
It was however gathered that some of the protesting students sustained varying degrees of injuries in the ensuing commotion and are currently receiving treatment at Irrua Specialist Hospital.
Jethro Ibileke/Benin