HUNDREDS of students of Lagos State University (LASU) on Monday stormed the Police Station at Igando to protest the death of a final year law student of the university, Mr Cyril Onyekachi Ugwanyi.
Ugwanyi was said to have been stabbed by a truck driver along LASU-Isheri Road on Sunday, in the course of an altercation between the driver and a group of students in another vehicle.
It was gathered that most students did not learn of his death until Monday, during the Coco-nut breaking Ceremony, one of the events lined up to mark the university’s 21st Convocation. Student leaders were said to have mobilised other students and in the afternoon stormed the Igando Police Station in protest.
The LASU Student Union President, Mr Samuel Sonayan was arrested by the police during protest. It took the intervention of the Vice Chancellor , Professor Lanre Fagbohun who called the Police Commissioner to quell the protest, and secure the release of the student leader.
A statement issued Monday evening, by the Public Relations Officer of the school, Mr Martin Adekoya, said while the incident was regrettable, the Convocation ceremonies would proceed as scheduled.
The statement said: “Except for a little hitch occasioned by the unfortunate death of a student of the University in an accident on the Lasu-Isheri Road yesterday, Sunday 19th, March, 2017, the 21st Convocation Ceremonies of the University is proceeding as planned, under a peaceful and gaiety atmosphere.
“Management notes with sadness the unfortunate death of Ugwanyi Cyril Onyekachi , a 500 Level student of the Faculty of Law with Matric Number 130411107 and commiserates with the family, friends and colleagues of the student and in the same vein, salutes the students of Lagos State University, led by the LASUSU President, Mr Samuel Kappo, for the maturity they displayed in responding to the issue, even under a very tensed emotional condition.
“Expectedly, angry reactions followed the news of the unfortunate incident. But the Students Leaders, having received assurance from Men of the Nigeria Police on the arrest and detention of the individual alleged to have perpetuated the act, prevailed on the students to exercise restraints and calmness for justice to prevail.
“Our world class students have therefore returned to their classrooms and are going about their activities peacefully.
“Meanwhile, attention has now shifted to the University Main Auditorium, venue of the Convocation Grand Performance after the well-attended coconut breaking festival.
“The Convocation Lecture will be delivered tomorrow, Tuesday, 21st March, 2017, by the Chairman, UACN, Mr Hakeem Oguniran as earlier scheduled.”
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