On Monday, the Lagos State Police Command announced the arrest of 32 individuals in connection with an incident at the Federal College of Education (Technical) in Akoka. These suspects are alleged to have attacked a Federal Government team that was at the college for an inspection. The situation on campus quickly escalated, with reports of violence and unrest as students who had been protesting poor campus conditions for about a week were seen fleeing from tear gas reportedly fired by police officers.
The crisis began when a group of students, dissatisfied with the college’s conditions, gathered for a meeting. According to a student who requested anonymity due to fear of retaliation, the situation took a turn for the worse when police officers arrived on campus. The student claimed that the officers began shooting at the students and that the school administration had called the police to deal with the unrest. The student alleged that tear gas was used against the students during the meeting, and some staff members were arrested and physically assaulted by the police.
Further complicating the situation, a brief video captured by a correspondent showed police officers firing shots into the air on campus, intensifying the confusion and fear among students.
In the aftermath, Dr. Wahab Azeez, the Provost of the college, claimed that the students’ protest was being orchestrated by staff members seeking to undermine his position. He asserted that he had never faced issues with students during his five-year tenure because of his background as a former Student Union leader. He contended that the students’ discontent was falsely attributed to a conspiracy involving staff members aiming to discredit him.
Photographs taken by reporters revealed the dire state of the college’s facilities, including deteriorating hostel structures with rotting wood, crumbling concrete, rusty tanks, and overgrown vegetation. These images underscored the students’ grievances regarding the college’s poor infrastructure.
Enoch Oyefara, the Speaker of the Students’ Union Government, clarified that the students were not challenging the Provost’s leadership but were protesting the inadequate conditions and mistreatment they experienced. The provost, however, denied any police shooting on campus, asserting that the students had vandalized his lodge and thrown stones at him, prompting police intervention.
The provost insisted that no shooting occurred, emphasizing that the police only used tear gas at the staff quarters and not within the college itself. He urged an investigation into the claims of shooting and requested verification from the Police Area Commander about any casualties and their medical status.
The Provost also accused students of holding council members hostage for three hours and moving them around before the police intervened. Meanwhile, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin later confirmed that 32 suspects were indeed arrested for their role in the incident.
According to Hundeyin, the college staff had been locked out of their offices by the provost for over three months before this event. On Monday, a Federal Government inspection team arrived at the college to mediate the ongoing conflict. However, this visit was met with hostility from the staff and students, resulting in the attack on the inspection team. The team’s vehicles were damaged, and the Provost’s official residence was vandalized. In response, the police arrived on the scene and restored order after being pelted with stones and water sachets by the rioters.
Hundeyin emphasized that the 32 arrests were part of efforts to stabilize the situation and ensure that peace was maintained. Officers from the Area Command in Surulere were deployed to the college to manage the aftermath of the incident and prevent further unrest.
Favour Randle, the Secretary General of the Students’ Union, criticized the police for their handling of the situation. She claimed that the riot began peacefully in the morning but escalated after the police fired gunshots and tear gas canisters into a female hostel. Randle questioned the justification for using tear gas in a female hostel and suggested that this action triggered the broader crisis. She urged students to remain calm and return home to help restore order.
The series of events at the Federal College of Education illustrates a complex conflict involving student protests, police intervention, and administrative disputes. The arrests and ongoing investigations aim to address the violence and restore calm to the campus.