There was chaos yesterday at Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, following a protest by students of the School of Evening Studies (SES) over the sudden “no school fees, no exam” policy initiated by the management of the institution.

According to reliable sources, a pregnant student who took to her heels for safety fell and fainted, while two others were reportedly killed in the unrest, while several others sustained various degrees of injury.

Trouble was said to have started yesterday after invigilators prevented the students from writing their first semester examinations, even when such management decision only apply during second semester examinations.

According to eye witnesses, some of the affected students who managed to write their examination the previous day had their scripts torn by invigilators.

Miss Victoria U. of the Mass Communication department revealed that operatives of the school’s security outfit, popularly known as Fazal, in an attempt to quell the riot shot live rounds at the students.

She said two of the students were killed in the process, while a pregnant student, who took to her heels for safety fell and fainted.

“And attempts are still ongoing to revive her, as the pregnant woman is getting medical care,” she said.

We further gathered that the rampaging students later took to the ever busy Auchi-Abuja expressway and halted traffic for several hours.

Vehicles and property running into millions of naira, including the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) news crew vehicle, were destroyed by the rampaging students.

The Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mustapha Oshiobugie, in a statement, said that the institution had been shut indefinitely.

Oshiobugie, however, denied claim that any casualty was recorded during the unrest. (TVC)

The police has arrested 94 suspects for their alleged involvement in the riot. The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Chris Ezike, gave the figure on Friday during a visit to the school for damage assessment. He vowed that the perpetrators of the vicious act would be brought to justice.

The Police Commissioner said that the suspects who were mostly students of the institution had been charged.

The acting Rector of Auchi Polytechnic, Mr Jafaru Buraimah, refuted claims that the protest was triggered by the school’s “no fee-no examination policy”.

The riot led to the destruction of at least 160 vehicles and other school property allegedly worth millions of naira.

•Pieced together from reports by TVC and Channels. Photo by TVC shows rioting Auchi Poly students.

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