Kayode ShopekanSTUDENTS of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) on Friday trooped out in their numbers, protesting against the arrest and detention of the Student Union President (SUG), Sodiq Ridwan, by soldiers.
The students during the protest declared Friday, October 29, 2021, lectures and examination free day, to register their displeasure over the development, which they termed “unjust exploitation, assault, a threat to the university community and total embarrassment that must be checked.
The SUG President was arrested by men of the Nigeria Army for intervening in a matter that led to an altercation between soldiers and students on Thursday.
On Friday morning, students took to the streets to protest what they called “illegal arrest and detention” of their colleagues.
Explaining what transpired, one of the student leaders said, “a few hours ago, uniformed men of the Nigerian Military invaded the students’ community of our dear University and meted out absolute injustice, and assault on peace-loving students.
“TASUEDITES who were going by their legitimate and calm businesses were cornered at CONOIL Filling Station, the Express Road leading to the university’s second gate. They were arrested and assaulted for no reason. To make things worse, the soldiers asked students to bail themselves with N50, 000 and those who could not do that were detained and taken away to the barracks.
“As responsible and responsive, students’ union officers, upon hearing the ugly development, we swung into action and made frantic efforts to mediate and rescue students from this injustice and assault cum fraudulent exploitation. This calm and ideal effort by the students’ union was met with strong resistance by the military men, who assaulted and arrested the Students’ Union President.
“The Senate President was also severely injured and many comrades were beaten, whipped, and abducted by the military men. The Students’ Union abhors this act in its totality, very displeased, and frowns on the reaction of the custodian of the university to the matter when contacted.
“As at the time of making this statement, the President of the Union was still in the custody of the military men.
However, the Vice-Chancellor of Tai Solarin University, Prof Wole Banjo, has visited the barracks of the Nigerian Army in Ilese on Friday.
The VC said he was yet to know why the students were arrested by the soldiers.
He said: “I just want to see those students that were arrested, and to also find out from the Army what happened.
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