Police Arrest Students Over Violent Protest

Following Thursday’s protest by the students of the Federal Polytechnic Auchi (Auchi Poly), Edo State, against the “no fees, no exams policy” by the school management, about 105 students have been arrested by the Edo State Police Command.

The suspects reported to have confessed that they were cultists recruited from the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, Delta State University, Abraka and the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.

According to Mr Mahmmud Garuba, Dean, School of Evening Studies, he noted that the disturbances could not had been the result of the “no school fees, no exam policy” as the management had announced the decision long ago.

His words: “Those that were denied access into the examination hall were not students; as they have not registered since they claimed to have gained admission into the polytechnic.

“Enough sensitization was done on the “no school fees, no examination” policy by the management and for them to go on riot and destroy properties of the institution, it is unacceptable,” he said.

Mr Mustapha Oshiobugie, Public Relations Officer of the polytechnic, also said that those prevented from writing the examination were not registered students of the institution.

It will be recalled that trouble started on the campus of the polytechnic when security operatives prevented some students who had yet to pay their tuition fees from writing their examinations.

The security operatives who were allegedly acting on the directive of the management of the institution, were said to have also torn the examination sheets of some of the students who forced their way into the examination hall.

The development angered the students and sparked a riot that also disrupted the conduct of the examination. The authorities of the school immediately announced the closure of the institution.