The ringleader of protesting students of the College of Education, Kengere in Bauchi State has been identified and arrested along with 31 other suspects and handed over to the Police, the Army has said.

In a statement issued on Friday by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Major Joseph Adekunle Afolasade, the Headquarters 33 Brigade Nigerian Army, Bauchi, refuted stories in some online publications alleging that soldiers brutalised students of the College.

According to the Spokesman, “No soldier brutalised any student of the institution as alleged. The story is complete distortion of facts and what transpired at the school all aimed evading justice by those involved.

“Headquarters 33 Brigade wishes to state clearly that, our officers and soldiers are professionals that conduct themselves responsibly in the discharge of their duties. Therefore, it is pertinent to set the records straight to avoid creating erroneous impression in the minds of good people of our country. This morning, the attention of the soldiers located about 300 metres away from College of Education Kangere, was drawn to a public disturbance and protest which turned violent by some students of the College which led to blockade of the busy Bauchi-Gombe Federal Highway.

“The rampaging students and hoodlums that joined them in their hundreds from the school and the neighbouring community continued with their violent protest and blocking of the road unabated. The protest and the students’ actions were as a result of the postponement of the Election of new set of Executive Committee of the Students Union Government at the College of Education, Kangere.

“The Platoon Commander in charge of the troops quickly informed the Police of what was happening. But before the Police could arrive, the angry students blocked the road, burnt tyres on the road and had used dangerous weapons on some of their colleagues.

“The soldiers had to peacefully disperse the hoodlums without firing a shot contrary to reports in the Social Media platforms. The soldiers went out of their way to quench the borne fire and subsequently opened the blocked road for free movement of both human and vehicular traffic.

“It is pertinent to note that the alleged injured students were wounded by some of his unruly colleagues in the school. We wish to reiterate that the reported wounded students were injured in the school premises during election process before the arrival of the soldiers,” the statement read.

The Army reiterated that “no student was injured during the dispersal of the students outside the school premises where the crowd dispersal took place. Rather, it is regrettable to state that one of soldiers was injured by the protesters who threw stones at him while clearing the road.

“Please note also that the Police patrol team arrived the scene after the soldiers had opened the road for free passage of motorists.

“The soldiers’ action was just and did not contravene any law in aid of the civil authorities to avert breakdown of law and order. As a matter of fact, the timely intervention and conduct of the soldiers deserve commendation not false and mischievous allegations.

“The Brigade will continue to subject itself to good conduct and is always ready to assist the civil authority whenever the situation demands within the established laws of the land.”

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