The police in Ondo state have arrested forty six students of the state-own university, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko who had shut down activities in the state capital for three days over increment in tuition fee by the state government.

Hundreds of market women, youths and some parents have also joined the students’ protest as they blocked major roads chanting solidarity and anti-government songs.

Some of the major markets including the popular Oja-Oba were also shut as the student blocked all entrance to the place.

The spokesman of Ondo State Police Command, Femi Joseph, who confirmed the arrest in a telephone interview, said out of the 46, twelve were students of the university while the rest were youths and thugs who have hijacked the protest.

Joseph said they had appealed to the students to end the peaceful protest to prevent hoodlums from hijacking it saying now the fear is becoming a reality.

He said those arrested would be charged to court.

But the students have vowed they will not end the protest until government reversed the decision.

The students also alleged that they were arrested near the state government house as the policemen used tear gas and guns to scare them away even as some were arrested.

The state Commissioner for Information, Yemi Olowolabi, has also accused politicians of hijacking the protest.

It would be recalled that the state government and the governing council had last week approved the increase in tuition fee from average of N30,000 to N180,000 and N200,000.

The chairman, governing council of the school, Dr Tunji Abayomi, said the university was facing financial difficulties and if the fees are not increased, it could lead to collapse. (Daily Trust)

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