The Nigerian Army has reportedly attacked students of the University of Abuja who were protesting against the hike in tuition fee and other issues at the school entrance.
It was gathered that the soldiers released tear gas into the air at the peaceful protesting students and used batons to beat others.
“Nigeria is now a country full of tyranny. The Vice-Chancellor brought armed soldiers to disrupt a peaceful protest by unarmed Nigerian students. When did protest become a crime in Nigeria? We won’t take this,” a student told a News correspondent.
The students during their protest were reported to have blocked the entrance of the school gate in Giri area of the Federal Capital Territory.
One of the Students’ Union Government official who spoke to a news correspondent narrates the story;
”Sometime in late 2019, rumours were going around about a purported increase in school fees at the university. As a proactive SUG, led by Aluta Famous, enquiries were made in which the VC, Professor Na’Allah, blatantly denied any possible increment and so there wasn’t much to do by the SUG. Some days after, students kept complaining about the fees on their portals and this prompted the SUG to meet with the VC again. This time around, the VC didn’t deny but intimated the SUG about an agreement reached with their predecessors (led by Aluta Standard) on the increment.
“The SUG was disappointed about the development and couldn’t come to terms with why their predecessors could have agreed to the increment, taking into consideration the fact that the fees had just been increased a year before then. However, the SUG pleaded for reduction, only for the management to say some students had already started paying and that the money could not be refunded. Not only that the management also insisted on giving a deadline for payment and registration, an act that’s alien to the students’ community since the previous management had always given students the grace of paying as late as in the second semester.
“This sudden increment and refusal to be considerate and sensitive enough to show empathy to struggling students has led some students to drop out because they could not meet up financially. True to his word, the VC closed the portal for payment. Then, there was the pandemic break and a strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities. Since there was news of possible resumption and examination dates set, SUG has been pleading for the portal to be reopened so as to allow students to register.
“In light of this, we are calling on all well-meaning Nigerians to come to the University of Abuja students’ aid and not allow this obvious oppression and intimidation of students to go without proper redress. Our future is at stake and we won’t fold our hands and watch as it is being delayed.”
(KemiFilani)
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