Two students of the FIDEI Polytechnic, Gboko, Benue State were on Wednesday killed which resulted in the institution’s shutdown by the management.
The Polytechnic owned by by Rev. Fr. Chris Utov of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi was shutdown on account of the killing of two students and two policemen by a suspected group of thugs identified as ‘SHAWA’.
During the crisis which broke out on Tuesday and lasted till Wednesday, a total of two students were recorded dead and another hospitalized after sustaining injuries.
The crisis also led to the destruction of the institution’s properties.
Speaking on the crisis, an eye witness, Terfa Guum confirmed that the affected properties include the bakery, bursary, the ranch and pen house.
According to reports, the group of thugs known as SHAWA allegedly invaded the institution to tackle a group of students who were protesting their exemption from the school’s second semester examination. According to the eye witness, the protest was led by the final year students who were owing the institution tuition fee and thus were not allowed to write the examination.
Guum said: “This made the students to stage a peaceful protest.”
He further disclosed that Policemen as soon as the protest started stormed the venue armed with tear gases and shooting sporadically
“In the process, a student was hit on the chest and died instantly, while another died in the hospital.”
Speaking on the protest, the Police Public Relations officer, ASP Moses Yamu, said: “Miscreants and students overpowered policemen during a peaceful protest in the school, injured two police officers and damaged six vehicles, one belonging to the police.”
He further disclosed that a total of 21 persons have been arrested so far in connection with the protest.
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