Tensions ran high on Wednesday as a significant police presence, including officers from various Lagos formations, took control of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) gate, effectively preventing both protesting students and other visitors from accessing the campus.
Over 20 police vehicles, university security personnel, and members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) converged at the university gate, barring entry to anyone, including prospective students seeking admission screening.
Admission seekers, as well as other visitors, were turned away at the gate by the security personnel, who locked down the entrance. This development followed the earlier dispersal of protesting students from the Sabo area of Yaba to the UNILAG campus, during which the police fired tear gas canisters to disperse the gathering.
Despite the initial dispersal, the students later regrouped and attempted to approach the campus gate. However, they were met with a formidable police presence, with officers cordoning off the area.
Balancing Oladeji Ibrahim, the President-Elect of the Faculty of Education Students Association, spoke on behalf of the students. He accused the Area Commander, identified as ACP Ayodeji A, of ordering his officers to use force against them and reported that some of their colleagues had been arrested. The detained students were identified as Femi Adeyeye and Philip Olatinwo.
Ibrahim announced that the students would continue to lay siege to the campus until their arrested colleagues were released. Furthermore, he reiterated the students’ demand for a reduction in tuition fees, underscoring the importance of their continued peaceful demonstration to address their concerns.
As the situation unfolds, it remains a critical point of discussion, emphasising the significance of dialogue between students and authorities to find amicable solutions to the issues raised. The ongoing developments at UNILAG highlight the broader conversation surrounding education accessibility and affordability in Nigeria.
Kiki Garba
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