Auchi Poly shut indefinitely over students protest

Authorities of Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, on Thursday announced the immediate closure of the institution indefinitely following students protest that resulted to destruction of properties worth millions of naira.

BusinessDay reports that the institution’s public relations officer, Mustapha Oshiobugie, announced the disclosure in a telephone conversation with newsmen after the protest.

Oshiobugie, however, said the management would meet to deliberate on the matter.

It was gathered that no fewer than 100 vehicles, NTA news crew vehicles and properties worth millions of naira were reportedly destroyed in the protest.

The protest was said to have started as a result “no school fees, no examinations” policy by the management of the institution.

It was learnt that the incident started at campus two of the polytechnic when some students were denied access to the hall to write their first semester examination.

The development was alleged to have prompted the students to embark on a demonstration, thereby disrupting other students already seated for the examination.

It was also gathered that three persons were allegedly shot dead by security personnel of the institution during the protest.

Reacting to the protest, Mahmmud Garuba, dean, School of Evening Studies, faulted the students on the protest, saying the management had announced the “no school fees, no exam” policy prior to the commencement of the exam.

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

Some of the students who spoke with newsmen on the condition of anonymity said they were refused to write their exam because they were yet to pay their school fees.

“We are protesting because the school management prevented us from writing our first semester examination on the account that we are yet to pay our fee. The school management is not fair to us and we want the policy reversed,” they said.

Men of the Nigerian Police with the assistance of Auchi Vigilante Group were however said to have put the situation under control.