Students of the University of Benin,UNIBEN, in Edo State have staged a protest against the Nigerian Army over the alleged assaulting of their colleague by soldiers from S&T Barracks, in the city, following a clash at the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) in a bank’s campus branch.
The management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) appealed for calm, urging people not to take laws into their hands or protest the alleged assault on one of their colleagues by soldiers on campus on Thursday.
In a statement on Friday signed by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Lilian Salami, the school said the management was in discussion with the hierarchy of the Nigerian Army for an amicable resolution.
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The statement reads, “The unfortunate incident of the clash between some students of our university and soldiers on Thursday 2nd February, resulting from alleged resistance of students to the soldiers’ attempt to jump ATM cues on campus has been brought under control and the Management of the University is in discussions with the hierarchy of the S & T for amicable resolution.
“The Management acknowledges that these are challenging times for everyone and enjoins all to remain calm while efforts are being made to avert a re-occurrence.
“Management also calls on the students to constantly engage dialogue in resolving issues that concern them rather than taking to protests, at any provocation, thereby causing more injury and damage to themselves and other citizens.”
Soldiers reportedly stormed one of the banks on campus to withdraw money from the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) on Thursday and refused to join the queue and forcefully push their way to the front in their numbers.
They were said to have descended heavily on a female student who, they assumed, was recording them on her phone.
Other students on the queue protested.
Even then, the soldiers reportedly attempted to abduct the student to their barracks, but for the quick intervention of the school security department who were drawn to the scene by the rumpus.
The soldiers were said to have assaulted the school’s security personnel, including the Chief Security Officer (CSO).
At this point, civilians rose against the uniformed men.
In a viral video, one of the soldiers could be seen on the ground being mobbed by the crowd.
He would later escape and called for backup.
Staff and students, however, stopped an Army van with soldiers from entering the university premises.
Subsequently, the students blocked the university main gate, and taking over a part of the Uselu-Lagos expressway while disrupting vehicular movement.
They claimed some of their injured colleagues and security personnel were taken to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) for medical attention.
Giantnews
