Fees hike: Police teargas, disperse protesting UNILAG students

Personnel of the Lagos State Command of the Nigerian Police Force have dispersed students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), who are protesting against the hike in the fees payable by students of the university, with tear gas.

Tribune online reports that the management of the institution announced the increment of the student fees by 400 percent a few weeks ago.

Since the announcement was made, the students of the institution have continued to express their dissatisfaction over the development.

In a recent update, the students carrying placards with various inscriptions gathered at Unilag junction to protest the increase in the payable fees.

However, in viral videos making rounds on social media, some operatives of the Nigerian police were captured disbanding the students with tear gas.

In one of the videos shared by @Adefolamie on X (Formerly Twitter), the students were seen running for safety after the tear gas was released on them.

The development has, however, continued to generate condemnation from social media users who berate the Nigerian police and the management of the institution over the development.

Reacting, a social media user, @Obatoba1 of Lagos wrote, “Over 600 armed police on peaceful protesters wey no reach 160. Its clear the Unilag management do not care and they are only concerned with what they want to loot.. Educated looters are worse than politicians. we saw this coming but we are not a coward, we were never discouraged.”

“Peace protesters are being arrested and attacked in Unilag. We are not thugs, neither are we criminals. We only want to use our voice to demand for justice.” olysglobalhub tweeted. 

“This is what unilag management are vampires. shooting & arresting peaceful protesters, we have it on record and the whole world is watching. Revert fee Now. We would not stop. It is our right” @HonLeoJefren tweeted.