Motorists and travelers plying Ibadan-Abeokuta road were left groaning yesterday when the students of Federal College of Agriculture, Apapa trooped out to protest against the management of the school.
The students were seen on the road as early as 6:30am armed with placards calling for the removal of the institution’s Provost, Dr. Babajide Adenekan for alleged mismanagement and poor leadership.
The accuse the Provost of always being at loggerhead with all the staff unions in the college, affiliated institutions, teaching hospitals and research institutes and this has severally led to strike actions and unnecessary elongation of their academic years.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the college, Mr. Odude revealed that five students were arrested because they became violent when the police approached them and some policemen were injured.
“It has been an off and on situation. We have been on this for the past six months, meeting them and trying to resolve the issues. We have met the students’ 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 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.”
Some of the students who spoke on the condition of anonymity for the fear of been punished said the police shot at them and several of their colleagues sustained gunshot injuries.
