1 Dead, Several Injured as Police, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Student Clash in Owo

A student of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo state has been allegedly shot dead by policemen in a riot that ensued between them and policemen early hours of today.

Several other students sustained grievous injuries in the clash, while some have been arrested by the police, it was learnt.

The management of the institution has closed down the school, directing the students to embark on mid-semester break to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

CityMirrorNews gathered that trouble started when a police patrol van hit some students of the institution and the policemen in the vehicle allegedly abandoned the student and ran away.

The students in anger matched to the ‘B’ Division Police Station at Otapete area of the town to protest the wicked attitude of the policemen.

Instead of attending to the protesting students, CityMirrorNews gathered that the policemen at the station fired tear gas to disperse them.

The development infuriated the students, who destroyed vehicles parked inside the station with some of the students being shot.

The protesting students barricaded the Owo/Akure expressway, causing a gridlock that lasted for several hours.

Many areas in the town were also blocked as the students set up bonfires in many places, preventing residents from going out.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Femi Joseph, said the students attacked and injured the Divisional Police Officer. He said the DPO was in a critical condition at the hospital.

Joseph said the students also attacked the police officers who were on duty when they stormed the station, adding that the students vandalised the parked vehicles inside the station despite the DPO’s call for calm.

He said, “The police vehicle that hit the students was not deliberate and it was a total lie that the driver abandoned the students because he immediately took the victims to a hospital and they are currently receiving treatment.”

The Vice President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Mr. Timileyin Ayenuro, called for the immediate removal of the DPO of ‘B’ Division Police Station for allegedly fuelling the crisis.

He explained that the students expected an apology from the police.

He also demanded the immediate release of the arrested students and warned the police to stop harassing the students of the institution.