The Kaduna state Police Command has confirmed the killing of a student of College of Education Gidan Waya, Kafanchan by security operatives during a protest by the students over the hike in tuition fees by the state government.
This is just as the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) gave Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state 21 days to pacify Nigerian students on the increase in tuition fees ahead of its national congress slated for July 19, 2021.
The Police command in a statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Muhammad Jalige, noted that two other students, a military sector commander and one other person sustained injuries during the protest, adding that the injured students have been taken to the hospital.
“Today Monday 28th June, 2021 at about 0800hrs the Command was informed of the protest and road blockade by the students of College of Education Gidan Waya Kafanchan over the recent increase in tuition fee by the Kaduna state government.
“On receipt of the information, the Command immediately dispatched operatives to restore normalcy. The contingent professionally and successfully dispersed the protesters and warned them not to embark on further protest and road blockade considering the existing warning against such action, issued by the Kaduna state Police Command a fortnight ago.
“However, at about 0930hrs, information has it that the students converged again and blocked the Gidan Waya – Kafanchan Federal Highway and were becoming unruly and riotous.
“At a point, the protesters blocked the convoy of a military sector Commander injuring him and one other. The situation resulted into a fracas where three protesters were injured in attempt to use minimal force to disperse the riotous students. The victims were taken to the hospital for medical attention but unfortunately one person died while receiving medical attention.
“The Commissioner of Police Kaduna Command, CP UM Muri, urged the students to embrace dialogue as it is best alternative way to express their grievances while assuring them of diligent investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the fracas that resulted to injuries to the students and the unfortunate loss of life,” ASP Jalige said.
Provost of the College, Prof. Alexander Kure while confirming the incident to journalists on Monday said the school was on mid semester break, noting that he was unaware of the students’ protest.
“The incident happened on the highway. I was told by the security that one student was killed and another injured. I offered an ambulance to take the corpse to the mortuary, and the other person that got injured to the hospital for treatment.
“The school was shutdown yesterday for mid semester break and students are to resume next Monday. I don’t know why they were protesting. The school was closed and we heard there was a protest on the road, and I am not privy to happenings outside the school,” he added.
Meanwhile, National President of NANS, Comrade Sunday Asefon, who received the news of the student’s killing, registered the Association’s anger over the incident, saying that all organs and sister bodies of NANS nationwide have been put on alert to relocate to Kaduna state to further press home their demand from the state government.
He said the students rejected in totality the recent spate of 1000% increment of schools fees and other related fees in state-owned tertiary institutions in Kaduna state saying, “we consider such increment at this time as insensitive, unreasonable, and unrealistic.
“NANS also rejected the attempt by the Kaduna state government, the Kaduna State University, or any other tertiary institutions to force an undertaken on parents and guardian of the students to remain in perpetual silence irrespective of the unfavorable policies of the government.
“The hovernor should be ready to kill as many of us as he can through thugs and security and also build enough jail within the 21days that can accommodate thousands of Nigerian students.”
