Authorities shut down Ambrose Alli Varsity as students protest

Hundreds of students of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, on Monday staged a protest over the alleged increase in school fees by the management of the institution.

Academic and non-academic activities were also grounded within and around the university located in Esan West Local Government Area of the state, as the rampaging students barricaded the major entrance of the school and highway, preventing any entry or exit.

It was gathered that a stampede ensued when some soldiers arrived at the scene and dispersed the protesters, leaving some of them injured.

They were said to have been taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

It was also learnt that a truck was set ablaze and its contents removed as the students protested and resisted attempts by some of the management staff to pacify them.

The situation was said to have forced the management of the university to shutdown the institution till further notice.

A student of the institution, who pleaded anonymity, explained that the state government failed to fulfill its earlier promise to reduce the fees from the N150,000 paid by fresh students.

'The (former) governor promised the new students that the ‎fees would be reduced in their level. But what they (management) are trying to do now is that the same N150,000 is what we would pay in the 200 level.

'They will do it to the extent that all levels would pay a uniform school fees and the students refused.

The Nigerian Army Public Relations Officer for the 4 Brigade Command, did not respond to calls put across to him, while a Police Public Relations Officer, Stephen Onwochei, told our correspondent that he was no longer the spokesman.

But the Public Relations Officer of the university, Edward Aihevba, said the protest was uncalled for as there had been discussions with the leadership of the students over the matter.

Aihevba also denied reports of any fatality during the protest.