Tina Amanda
Over 20 students from the Rivers State College of Health Science and Technology have been wounded as police officers released teargas on them during a peaceful protest inside the campus.
The students of the institution were said to have protested, demanding the release of some students numbering over 15 who were forcefully taken away by unknown security officers that stormed the school hostel at about 1: am today.
The Student Union President, Rosary Minini Braide told our reporter Tina Stephen, that the security officers stormed the campus without proper identification or stating reasons for the arrest of the students.
“What led to today’s protest was an arrest of some of our students around 1: am this morning by security men. These men that came did not reveal their identity to the students, they just went room to the rooms and took them away.
“They took away male and female students numbering over fifteen, we don’t know who they are, we are seeking answers to whom they are.
“In the cause of this peaceful protest, students were dispatched with teargas, live ammunition and we have over twenty casualties, some lost their teeth while others sustained facial and leg injuries”
Also Speaking, Chairman National Association of Nigerian Students, Nwokocha Noble, said that the student union and the association of Nigerian student are putting effort to ensure the release of the arrested students.
“There was an issue on matriculation day with regards to some of the students and the Dean of Student Affairs which led to the arrest of some students and up till date those students have not been released, they are still in the coffers of the Nigerian Police, only for them to come back this morning for another arrest.
“What we are saying is, we cannot allow students to be rising tension and not expect something to happen, the students need to calm down and we have been able to meet with the school management to pulse the examination that is ongoing right now”
However, all effort made to speak with the school management on the reason for the arrest of the students proved abortive, as the school Deputy Provost declined to comment on the matter.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command Public Relation Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed the incidence said that the students arrested will be released today.
“We have been able to restore calmness in the campus, there is an issue between the school authority and the students. We have told the students to behave and the ones that were arrested will be released now”
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