Lagos – At least 50 students from the Federal College of Education in Akoka, Lagos State, were severely injured during a stampede that occurred on Monday afternoon when some armed policemen invaded their school premises and and started firing shots.
The overzealous police officers were reportedly deployed to stop the inauguration of the institution’s governing council by the school provost, one Dr Wahab Azeez Ademola.
The students and some concerned staff in recent times had spoken against corruption and mismanagement of funds within the school system under the watch of Dr Wahab.
This was why they called for the instant inauguration of the governing council which would put a check to the excessive power of the provost.
However, the provost who did not want the council inaugurated, started to threaten all the staff and the students’ leaders, according to information received.
Dr Wahab also mobilised armed policemen to disrupt the process, it was learnt.
According to viral videos, the lawless Nigerian policemen were seen shooting bullets and teargas at the hundreds of students and staff of the institution.
“The shooting caused a stampede and this led to an unrest situation in the school which made over 300 students run for their lives. One of the students was shot in his hand. The Students’ Union has been able to identify not less than 50 students who are critically injured,” an eyewitness was quoted as saying.
“The police also arrested about 30 people including students and staff of the school because the provost did not want a system that transparent in the school system.”
The school management did not respond to a request for comment.
Reacting to the incident, the Lagos Police Command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the policemen were deployed to the school to quell the violence allegedly started by some staff and students against the school provost.
“For over three months, staff of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka locked out their Provost, depriving him use of his office.
“A team set up by the Minister of Education arrived the school today to mediate the ongoing impasse. However, staff of the college aided by students attacked the team from Abuja, damaging over five vehicles and the Provost’s official quarters.
“Not done, the rioting staff and students also blocked all entrances in and out of the college. The police arrived the scene and restored normalcy after being attacked with stones and sachets of water by the rioters.
“Meanwhile, 32 suspects have been arrested while men of the Nigeria Police Force from Area Command, Surulere remain on ground to ensure that the restored peace remains intact,” Hundeyin wrote on X.
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